EVALUATION OF THE BIOCHEMICAL AND NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF SOME EDIBLE INSECTS: AN ALTERNATIVE TO FOOD NUTRIENT SOURCES IN CROSS RIVER STATE, SOUTH-EASTERN NIGERIA

The nutritional analysis of edible insects in Cross River State was studied. Insect samples were collected using entomological nets and hand-picking. Collected insects were stored in ice box and transported to Laboratory for identification. The mean proximate composition of Macrotermes bellicosus (termite) were 3.846 ? 0.050% (moisture), 4.200 ? 0.050% (ash), 26.300 ? 0.050% (fat), 2.656 ? 0.040% (fibre), 22.440 ? 0.216% (protein) and 7.420 ? 0.026% (carbohydrate). The mean proximate composition of Acheta domesticus (cricket) were 2.626 ? 0.097% (moisture), 4.590 ? 0.065% (ash), 22.500 ? 0.200% (fat), 3.400 ? 0.050% (fibre), 20.173 ? 0.155% (protein) and 6.356 ? 0.040% (carbohydrate). The mean mineral composition of M. bellicosus were 20.800 ? 0.200 mg/100g (Ca), 10.433 ? 0.251mg/100g (Mg), 16.366 ? 0.152 mg/100g (Fe) and 83.433 ? 0.305 mg/100g (P). Acheta domesticus had mean mineral levels of 15.566 ? 0.404 mg/100g (Ca), 13.266 ? 0.251mg/100g (Mg), 18.533 ? 0.305 mg/100g (Fe) and 70.166 ? 0.208 mg/100g (P). Termites (M. bellicosus) was more nutritious than termites (A. domesticus). Statistically, the moisture, ash, fat, fibre, protein, carbohydrate and iron content varied insignificantly (p>0.05), while calcium, magnesium and phosphorous level varied significantly between M. bellicosus and A. domesticus (p<0.05). Due to the capacity of edible insects to compensate for the inability of increasing food productivity to meet the growing population, we recommend that insects are consumed as alternative to other protein source. Similar researches on other insects should be carried out, so as to identify the most nutritious insects for consumption.