Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38002131›Full record

ReviewFoods (Basel, Switzerland)2023

Edible Insects: A New Sustainable Nutritional Resource Worth Promoting.

Mengjiao Li, Chengjuan Mao, Xin Li, Lei Jiang, Wen Zhang, Mengying Li, Huixue Liu, Yaowei Fang, Shu Liu, Guang Yang and 1 more

Open access · goldAbstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Foods (Basel, Switzerland), 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 38 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
38citing papers in PubMed
22.2field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

38 citing papers in PubMed, 78 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Effect of Dietary Inclusion of House Cricket (Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2026
    Article
  3. Review
  4. Review
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Review
  10. Article
  11. Article
  12. Article
  13. Article
  14. Review
  15. The Potential of Black Soldier Fly (Foods (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025
    Article
  16. Review
  17. Effect ofInsects · 2025
    Article
  18. Article
  19. Review
  20. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Mengjiao LiJiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China.
Chengjuan MaoCollege of Marine Food and Bioengineering, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China.
Xin LiCollege of Marine Food and Bioengineering, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China.
Lei JiangCollege of Marine Food and Bioengineering, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China.
Wen ZhangCollege of Marine Food and Bioengineering, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China.
Mengying LiCollege of Marine Food and Bioengineering, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China.
Huixue LiuCollege of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
Yaowei FangJiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China.
Shu LiuJiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China.
Guang YangJiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China.ORCID 0000-0003-1036-8397
Xiaoyue HouJiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresources and Environment, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China.ORCID 0000-0001-8175-7707
Nanjing Agricultural University · CN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Edible insects are a highly nutritious source of protein and are enjoyed by people all over the world. Insects contain various other nutrients and beneficial compounds, such as lipids, vitamins and minerals, chitin, phenolic compounds, and antimicrobial peptides, which contribute to good health. The practice of insect farming is far more resource-efficient compared to traditional agriculture and animal husbandry, requiring less land, energy, and water, and resulting in a significantly lower carbon footprint. In fact, insects are 12 to 25 times more efficient than animals in converting low-protein feed into protein. When it comes to protein production per unit area, insect farming only requires about one-eighth of the land needed for beef production. Moreover, insect farming generates minimal waste, as insects can consume food and biomass that would otherwise go to waste, contributing to a circular economy that promotes resource recycling and reuse. Insects can be fed with agricultural waste, such as unused plant stems and food scraps. Additionally, the excrement produced by insects can be used as fertilizer for crops, completing the circular chain. Despite the undeniable sustainability and nutritional benefits of consuming insects, widespread acceptance of incorporating insects into our daily diets still has a long way to go. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the nutritional value of edible insects, the development of farming and processing technologies, and the problems faced in the marketing of edible insect products and insect foods to improve the reference for how people choose edible insects.

Indexed as

edible insectsfarming and processinginsect food promotionnew nutritional sourcessustainability

Identifiers

PMID38002131
PMCPMC10670618
OpenAlexW4388540851

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.