With the emergence of raw material manufacturers specializing in the cultivation and development of insect protein, the application of insect protein in food and beverage products is becoming more and more extensive.
Asa Berggren, a conservation biologist at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, points out that "as the global demand for protein grows, large-scale insect rearing could play an important role in the future food supply." ”
Looking at the current global insect protein products, various foods using insects as raw materials have blossomed in many places, such as mealworm biscuits, cricket protein bars, mixed insect snacks, insect protein balls and other innovative products are emerging in an endless stream. Combined with foreign product innovation cases, Digital Food advocates summarizes the following four main application trends, providing foreign experience and inspiration for innovation in the food and beverage industry.
1. Baking snacks
As the wind of health gradually blows into all aspects of life, people's requirements for food have also changed from satisfying appetites to being healthy. Insect protein foods are in line with several attributes that consumers are looking for in food. In particular, the continuous rise of the sustainability boom in recent years has created a good market atmosphere for insect protein.
Insects-based flour can not only be used as an ingredient in biscuits, bread and cereals, but will also help improve the nutritional value of wheat-based foods while also creating insect products that consumers will love.
Insect-based flour or powder is being widely used as a baking ingredient to increase the nutritional value of the product. Taking the most widely used cricket as an example, studies have shown that wheat bread containing 10% cricket flour has a much better nutritional status in terms of protein, essential amino acids and fatty acid composition than bread without insects.
Case: Small Giants: Crackers Bites (Salty Cricket Biscuits)
Small Giant, a British snack start-up, has launched Crackers Bites, an insect biscuit packed with high protein. According to reports, this product is made of 15% cricket powder mixed with pure natural extra virgin olive oil and wheat flour, and each biscuit contains about 9 grams of protein, without adding sugar, with a unique crunchy texture, and a sweet aftertaste. Crackers Bites is aimed at environmentalists who are looking for a high-quality alternative protein source or looking to reduce their consumption of animal food.
Currently, Small Giant is available in three flavors: Tomato & Oregano (Tomato Oregano), Turmeric & Paprika (Turmeric Pepper), Rosemary & Thyme (Rosemary Thyme). The snack was also selected as the first insect-based product to be named the star of the 2020 Great Taste Awards, signed by Tree of Life for distribution in the UK, and is currently available on Amazon and the brand's official website.