Encouraging willingness to try insect foods with a utility-value intervention

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Food Science
• Sustainability Studies

Background:

• Entomophagy (insect consumption) offers nutritional and environmental benefits but faces cultural rejection in Western societies.
• Disgust responses are a primary barrier to adopting insect-based diets.
• Educational interventions may overcome negative attitudes by increasing perceived value and interest.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a utility-value intervention in promoting entomophagy.
• To assess the impact of educational interventions on willingness to try insect foods.
• To determine if exposure to insect food information influences attitudes towards entomophagy.

Main Methods:

• Two studies utilized a utility-value intervention where participants researched and wrote essays on entomophagy.
• A control group wrote essays on a non-insect topic.
• Participants rated their willingness to try insect foods and other attributes (e.g., sustainability) pre- and post-intervention, with follow-up assessments.

Main Results:

• The utility-value intervention significantly increased willingness to try insect foods and improved perceptions of key attributes compared to the control.
• Researching insect-based recipes also showed a positive, though smaller, effect on willingness to try insect foods.
• Intervention effects remained consistent at one-month follow-up.

Conclusions:

• Utility-value interventions are effective in encouraging entomophagy by enhancing perceived value and interest.
• Exposure to information about insect foods, even without a formal intervention, can positively influence attitudes towards entomophagy.
• Findings support the use of educational strategies to promote sustainable and nutritious insect-based diets.