Opinions on Insect Consumption in Hungary

Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess knowledge and opinion in the Hungarian population about the consumption of insect-based food. The questionnaire was filled in by 414 respondents. Their knowledge of edible insect consumption in different countries was average (score 4) or above on a scale of 1 (totally disagree) to 7 (totally agree). Their willingness to consume insect-based food was low, usually below average. Significantly higher scores were attained by men than women, by respondents with a university degree than those who graduated from secondary school, and the highest scores were attained by people of 30–39 age group. However, the effects of residence (town or village) and income were not significant. As Hungarians are not traditional insect consumers, there is a significant emotional response of disgust regarding food made from insects and, as insect food is not commercially available, no significant increase in insect consumption is expected in the near future.

Acceptance of Insect-Based Food Products in Western Societies: A Systematic Review

“…Results regarding the influence of place of residence on consumers' acceptance of insects as food are similar to the results concerning education, though place of residence was less often examined ( 42 , 65 , 67 , 71 , 87 , 93 , 99 , 105 , 116 ). The place of residence was surveyed with various methods that can be broadly divided into two categories: [1] number of residents and [2] designation of residence (e.g., urban vs. not urban, city vs. rural).…”

“…If the place of residence had an effect, which was the case in 44.4% of the studies, people living in an urban area or in areas with a high number of residents were found to be more receptive to edible insects ( 65 , 71 , 99 , 116 ). In contrast, the majority of studies (55.6%) found that the place of residence had an insignificant effect ( 42 , 67 , 87 , 93 , 105 ).…”

“…In contrast, the majority of studies (61.1%) in our review concluded that there was no link between age and Westerners' acceptance of edible insects ( 39 , 41 , 42 , 48 , 51 , 55 , 56 , 58 , 61 , 62 , 64 , 66 , 72 – 74 , 86 , 104 – 106 , 108 , 109 , 117 ). However, 36.1% of all studies that evaluated the effect of age on consumers' acceptance observed a negative effect of age ( 2 , 64 , 65 , 67 , 71 , 76 , 77 , 87 , 92 , 93 , 97 , 99 , 115 ), which means that younger people had a higher acceptance of insect-based foods than older people, while two studies (5.6%) identified a positive connection ( 49 , 107 ). The percentages add up to more than 100, since Kourimská et al ( 64 ) reported no statistically significant influence of age on the hedonic evaluations of insect products, but on participants' interest in eating insects, with older participants being significantly less interested in insect consumption.…”

“…For example, in a study by Schlup and Brunner ( 87 ), education was measured by three different levels: low (no education and compulsory school), middle (apprenticeships and secondary school), and high (technical and vocational training, college, or university). While 42.1%—eight studies ( 41 , 55 , 62 , 93 , 99 , 101 , 107 , 108 )—of the 19 studies that examined education identified a higher education level as a predictor of acceptance, 11 studies (57.9%) found that education was not relevant for the acceptance of insects as food ( 2 , 51 , 56 , 61 , 65 , 66 , 71 , 76 , 86 , 87 , 105 ).…”

“…The sociodemographic predictors income ( 67 , 87 , 93 , 105 ) and occupation ( 105 ) (response options: “ student” or “ other” ) seem to have no impact on people's acceptance of insects as food. Income was assessed in three different ways: [1] monthly income ( 67 , 87 ), [2] annual income ( 105 ) with quantified amounts of money or [3] via an assessment of quality of life and the possibility of saving money with items such as “ [I live] well but can only set little money aside .” ( 93 ).…”