Gyeonggi Institute: "Edible Insects Have Twice the Protein of Meat... A Promising Future Food Source"

Edible insects distributed in Gyeonggi Province and products made from them have been found to contain higher levels of protein and minerals compared to conventional meats or vegetables.

The Gyeonggi-do Institute of Health and Environment conducted a survey from March to October last year, analyzing the safety and protein content of edible insects such as silkworm pupae, mealworm larvae, edible silkworm larvae and pupae, two-spotted cricket, and white-spotted flower beetle larvae produced by farms and sold through online shopping malls in Gyeonggi Province. The results showed that the average protein content of edible insects ranged from 39.8 to 72.2 grams per 100 grams, which is more than double that of common meats such as chicken, pork, and beef (19-23 grams). Among the insects, silkworm pupae had an average protein content of 64.7 grams, and two-spotted cricket had 63.3 grams, both particularly high.

Gyeonggi-do Institute of Health and Environment

For minerals, each insect species showed distinct characteristics. Silkworm pupae contained an average of 1,388 mg of potassium per 100 grams, which is about twice the amount found in spinach (691 mg) or parsley (638 mg), and also had the highest calcium content among edible insects at 433 mg. Two-spotted cricket contained 5.6 mg of iron, 18.3 mg of zinc, and 2,380 mg of phosphorus, making it highly valuable nutritionally. Most edible insects also had more than double the magnesium content of brown rice (70 mg) or oats (78 mg), indicating they are richer in this mineral than whole grains.

On the other hand, all samples met the standards set by the Food Sanitation Act in tests for heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and arsenic.

Moon Sugyeong, Head of the Food and Drug Research Division at the Gyeonggi-do Institute of Health and Environment, stated, "Edible insects are an eco-friendly future food resource, producing less greenhouse gas and food waste compared to livestock. As this survey has confirmed their safety and value as highly nutritious foods, we hope that residents of the province can use them with confidence."