Insects as a food source: Assessing the disgust factor

Bc. Tereza Doležalová

Master's thesis

Abstract:

Excessive meat consumption and the related activities have been recognized as one of the main culprits of environmental degradation. With increasing global population it is not feasible to sustain global demand of meat and animal products. Implementing insects in global diet is one of the proposed steps to solve this issue. Despite the nutritional and environmental benefits, insect consumption is still confined to minor amount of countries. Western consumers, - the leaders in meat consumption, perceive strong disgust to insect consumption while consuming other animals. Understanding the source of this disgust remains unclear. Therefore the objective of our experimental research is to provide insight into the possible drivers of disgust related to insect eating in Western countries. Participants (N = 172) were divided over eight different groups. Each group was manipulated by different informational cues. The main outcomes of the study shows contrary to our expectations that recognisability and inappropriateness had no effect on ideational contamination for this target group. The ideational contamination had significant negative effect on disgust towards insect products. The effect of previous consumption of insects decreases significantly ideational contamination in relation to insects. Neophobia does not influence attitude to insect product consumption directly, but is fully mediated through disgust.

Abstract:

Excessive meat consumption and the related activities have been recognized as one of the main culprits of environmental degradation. With increasing global population it is not feasible to sustain global demand of meat and animal products. Implementing insects in global diet is one of the proposed steps to solve this issue. Despite the nutritional and environmental benefits, insect consumption is still confined to minor amount of countries. Western consumers, - the leaders in meat consumption, perceive strong disgust to insect consumption while consuming other animals. Understanding the source of this disgust remains unclear. Therefore the objective of our experimental research is to provide insight into the possible drivers of disgust related to insect eating in Western countries. Participants (N = 172) were divided over eight different groups. Each group was manipulated by different informational cues. The main outcomes of the study shows contrary to our expectations that recognisability and inappropriateness had no effect on ideational contamination for this target group. The ideational contamination had significant negative effect on disgust towards insect products. The effect of previous consumption of insects decreases significantly ideational contamination in relation to insects. Neophobia does not influence attitude to insect product consumption directly, but is fully mediated through disgust.

Keywords

Insect consumption, edible insects, entomophagy

Keywords

Insect consumption, edible insects, entomophagy

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 16. 5. 2016

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: prof. Ing. Ivana Tichá, Ph.D.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Economics and Management

Master programme / field:
Economics and Management / Economics and Management