Edible Insects Shelf Life Heavy Metals Food Safety Entomophagy Nigeria

The shelf life and heavy metal contaminants of two commonly available edible insects in Ijebu division were studied. The samples were collected through water trap and by handpicking respectively with a view of adopting the method of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists for the shelf life and heavy metal study. Heavy metal contaminants such as Cadmium (10.95mg/kg, 12.70mg/kg), Zinc (5.50mg/kg, 2.70mg/kg) and Lead (39.55mg/kg, 40.15mg/kg) respectively, were revealed in both insects. After three months of storage, the results showed that there was high depreciation in the nutritional components in both Rhynchophorus phoenicis (larva) and Macrotermes bellicosus (winged). Therefore, this insinuates an 80% reduction in the nutritional composition it can supply when consumed after three months of storage. The need to study further adequate methods of extending their shelf life is of utmost importance.

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