article · Discover Food
Protein malnutrition and food insecurity persist in Burundi, where staple diets based on cereals and cassava often lack essential micronutrients and high-quality protein. Edible insects offer a sustainable, nutrient-dense solution for nutritional fortification. An evaluation of four insect species consumed or reared in Burundi, namely crickets, locusts, black soldier fly larvae, and honeybee larvae, revealed distinct nutritional profiles. Crickets showed the highest protein content alongside a favourable polyunsaturated fatty acid composition. Black soldier fly larvae and honeybee larvae demonstrated elevated lipid levels and high energy density, while locusts proved particularly rich in calcium. Honeybee larvae provided significant amounts of zinc and iron. All four species exhibited valuable amino acid profiles, notably in lysine, leucine, and branched-chain amino acids. Physicochemical analyses further confirmed structural differences that could influence how these species behave during food formulation.
Diets heavily reliant on starchy staples like cassava can lead to severe protein and mineral deficiencies. Identifying local, nutrient-dense ingredients offers a practical route to tackle malnutrition. By documenting the exact nutrient profiles of four regional insect species, this work shows how specific insects can address precise dietary gaps, supporting efforts to improve health outcomes using culturally accepted, sustainable food sources in Burundi.
This work informs food manufacturers, fortification programmes, and insect-farming enterprises seeking functional ingredients for dietary enrichment. The data points towards formulated food products designed to enrich cereal and cassava staples with specific proteins, lipids, or minerals. The research represents early-stage laboratory characterisation, meaning further work on formulation, processing, shelf-life, and consumer testing is required before reaching market use.
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Food insecurity and protein malnutrition remain major public health concerns in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Burundi, where diets are predominantly based on starchy staples deficient in high-quality proteins and essential micronutrients. Edible insects represent sustainable, culturally accepted, and nutrient-dense alternative food resources with strong potential for food fortification strategies. This study comparatively evaluated the nutritional, mineral, biochemical, fatty acid, and amino acid compositions of four edible insect species commonly consumed or produced in Burundi: crickets ( Acheta domesticus ), locusts ( Locusta migratoria ), black soldier fly larvae ( Hermetia illucens ), and honeybee larvae ( Apis mellifera ). Significant interspecific variability was observed. Crickets exhibited the highest protein content (56.81% dry matter) and the most favorable polyunsaturated fatty acid profile, characterized by elevated linoleic and α-linolenic acid contents as well as a high PUFA/SFA ratio. BSF larvae and honeybee larvae displayed high lipid contents and energy density, whereas locusts showed exceptionally high calcium concentrations. Honeybee larvae also contained relatively high iron and zinc levels. Amino acid analysis revealed nutritionally valuable profiles in all species, particularly with respect to leucine, lysine, and branched-chain amino acids, highlighting their potential for improving the amino acid balance of cereal- and cassava-based diets. FTIR and zeta potential analyses further confirmed interspecific biochemical and physicochemical differences that may influence food formulation behavior. Overall, the results demonstrate that edible insects constitute promising species-specific nutritional resources for sustainable food fortification in Burundi and support their integration into strategies aimed at combating protein and micronutrient deficiencies.
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DOI: 10.1007/s44187-026-01199-y
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