Insect consumption in the Czech Republic: what the eye does not see, the heart does not grieve over

Abstract

A survey to test customers´ experience and preferences regarding food insects in the Czech Republic has revealed that 37.8% of the 1,340 respondents had experienced eating insects. Although more than half of the respondents reported their experience as being positive, only 11.8% consumed insects regularly. Of those who had no experience with edible insects, 14% stated their willingness to taste insects. Regarding preferences, ground insects or insect meal were the favourite forms of consumption, regardless of the species. From a sociodemographic point of view, age and gender significantly influenced the responses; younger people and men reported more positive attitudes towards entomophagy than older people and women. Regarding eating whole insects, processed crickets, katydids and locusts were the top-rated insects. Cockroaches were the least popular choice. The majority (77.7%) of the respondents also claimed that they would not mind consuming meat products originating from livestock that were fed insects.