Insects have been approved as food in the EU, but a recent study conducted by researchers at the Technical University of Berlin has found that the majority of people in Germany, Italy, and Portugal are not willing to eat them. The study involved an experiment where participants had to choose between meatballs made from crickets and mealworms or meat from chickens that had been fed insects. The results showed that the acceptance of chicken meatballs was slightly higher than that of insect meatballs. However, the study also found that providing additional information about the environmental benefits of insect-based foods increased acceptance in some cases.
The study confirmed previous findings that insect-based foods are not widely accepted in Europe. However, the researchers also wanted to explore ways to increase acceptance. They found that providing information about the sustainability of insect-based foods increased acceptance in some cases, but not in others. In Germany, both insect-fed chicken meat and products made from crickets were more accepted, while in Italy, only mealworms saw an increase in acceptance. Interestingly, the study found that mentioning the protein content of insect-based foods did not increase acceptance in either Germany or Italy.
The study also found that a large percentage of participants in Germany and Portugal said they would never eat insect-based foods, while in Italy, the percentage was much smaller. The reasons for these differences are not clear. Overall, the study highlights the challenges of introducing insect-based foods to European markets and the need for further research to understand consumer attitudes and preferences.
