Salty crackers enriched with cricket (Acheta domesticus) powder: a comprehensive quality and safety assessment study

The formation of acrylamide was investigated in salty crackers enriched with cricket powder (Acheta domesticus) since its addition increases the free asparagine content. Cricket powder additions (5, 10, 15 %) were tested on crackers prepared with white wheat flour or whole grain wheat flour, baked for 25, 35 and 45 min at 180 °C. Additionally, chloropropandiols (2- and 3-MCPD) fatty acid esters and glycidol fatty acid esters were investigated. Acrylamide increased significantly after the addition of cricket powder and a prolonged baking time, especially in crackers containing white wheat flour. Although 2-MCPD and glycidol were not affected by the addition of cricket powder, 3-MCPD increased especially in crackers baked for 45 min. Crackers enriched with 5 % cricket powder were sensorially the most preferred.