Insects are gradually introduced to Western diets through flours integrated into daily food products such as pastas, energy bars, biscuits. It is for now a niche market which should grow over the next few years if we consider the nutritional & environmental impact of such products.

1. Insect-based food
products
2017 Food Trend

2. Insects are said to be the future of alimentation, according to the FAO about 2 billion people worldwide eat insects
on a regular basis(in Latin America, Southeast Asia, Central Africa).
In Europe, despite the environment and nutritional benefices of edible insects, there is a strong cultural barrier
and eating bugs is often perceived as something disgusting as raw fish or seafood were considered several decades
ago.
For now eating unprocessed insects is not an option in Europe, except for a small number of brave people!
However, some companies gradually try to change our food habits in introducing insects to our daily diets.
The alternative and current trend is to grind insects into flour and add them to daily basic food products such as
pastas, energy bars, snacks, biscuits or to market it as a flour to be integrated to any preparation to transform it
into a rich-protein meal.
Insect-based food products: a growing food trend
Free picture of a fake product
©Et Demain? - 2017

3. Insect-based food products are a great meat
alternative, very easy to integrate in daily meals.
With a discret taste and invisible, the insects
contained in the products have several health
benefits which suit very well to vegetarians,
flexitarians, sporty people or anyone taking care
of its health.
.
Insect-based food products: a sustainable and healty meat alternative
Thanks to marketing efforts and collective
awarness insect-based food products will
become mainstream in the next years.
Beyond a food trend, eating insects will become a
necessity as it answers to a high challenge:
feeding a growing number of people at a low cost
while reducing the environmental impact.
Farming insect is rather inexpensive and reduce
the pressure on lands. For instance, crickets need
only 1/12 as much feed as cattle, ¼ as much feed
as sheep for the same amount of proteins.
Farming and
eating insects was
one of the
alternatives
suggested by the
FAO to feed a
growing
population with
high quality food
and preserve
food security
(Edible Insects –
Future prospects
for food and feed
security – 2013).
Gluten-free, they provide high-quality
protein and essential nutrients such as
iron, fibers, zinc, magnesium, calcium
They have a low salt rate and are
easily assimilated by the organism.
©Et Demain? - 2017

4. Insect-based food products: some key French brands
Although being a niche market in France, a few French brands already
commercialize insect-based products:
Jimini’s
Grasshopper and mealworm
snacks as well as energy bar
made from crickets flour.
Aldento
Traditional Mealworm
Flour Fresh Pasta
Crickets-based pasta and flour Insect-based deli products
including pastas, snacks,
chocolates, energy bars,
biscuits.
JIMINI’S ALDENTO KINJAO MICRONUTRIS
©Et Demain? - 2017