Potential Nutrient Contribution of Community-Based Insects in Children's Food in Northern Ghana

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Science
• Food Science
• Entomology

Background:

• Micronutrient deficiencies pose a significant challenge for children in northern Ghana.
• Existing diets, primarily plant-based, are inadequate to meet children's nutritional requirements.
• Entomophagy (insect consumption) is a culturally accepted practice and a potential dietary solution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify commonly consumed insects and perceptions of entomophagy.
• To understand factors influencing the inclusion of insects in household meals.
• To assess the nutritional contribution of local insects to children's diets.

Main Methods:

• An exploratory study employing concurrent qualitative and quantitative methods.
• Data collection involved 392 individuals and 6 focus group discussions in northern Ghana.
• Analysis focused on documenting edible insect types, consumption patterns, and nutritional impact.

Main Results:

• Termites, crickets, grasshoppers, and caterpillars are prevalent edible insects.
• While consumed by children, insects are not widely incorporated into household meals due to various factors.
• Inclusion of insects significantly improved children's intake of 11 micronutrients, meeting requirements for zinc, vitamin B-12, folate, and fat.

Conclusions:

• Community-based edible insects hold substantial potential for addressing children's micronutrient needs in Ghana.
• Further research and interventions are needed to promote household adoption and accessibility of insects.
• Entomophagy offers a viable, culturally appropriate strategy to combat malnutrition.