Development of a lexicon for the sensory description of edible insects commercially available in Australia

Bless, Ishka; Bastian, Susan Elaine Putnam; Gould, Joanne; Yang, Qian; Wilkinson, Kerry Leigh

Abstract

Sensory lexicons provide an important tool for describing the sensory properties of emerging, unfamiliar foods such as edible insects. This study sought to establish and validate a sensory lexicon for the description and differentiation of edible insects commercially available in Australia and prepared using common preservation and cooking methods (freeze-drying, hot-air drying, roasting, sautéing and deep-frying). Five species were evaluated, including house crickets (Acheta domesticus), yellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor), king mealworm larvae (Zophobas morio), tyrant ants (Iridomyrmex spp.) and green tree ants (Oecophylla smaragdina). Following generic descriptive sensory analysis methods, a trained panel (n=8) developed a sensory lexicon of 29 aroma and flavour descriptors, and 16 texture descriptors. Vocabulary were then categorised and ordered to generate a sensory wheel. Due to a lack of cross-over in sensory attributes between species, sub-categories of species-specific vocabulary were also generated for each insect. The lexicon enabled sensory profiling of commercially available edible insect samples which revealed large variation in aroma, flavour, and texture attributes due to both species and preparation method. This work provides a platform for development of a globally relevant edible insect sensory lexicon. International collaboration will enable expansion of the lexicon for use with other insect species and preparation methods, insect-derived ingredients (such as insect powder, defatted insect powder and textured insect protein) and in different cultural settings. As the industry grows, the applicability of vocabulary for differentiating within species and between competitive products should also be assessed.

Citation

Bless, I., Bastian, S. E. P., Gould, J., Yang, Q., & Wilkinson, K. L. (2024). Development of a lexicon for the sensory description of edible insects commercially available in Australia. Food Research International, 190, Article 114574. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2024.114574

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 26, 2024
• Online Publication Date: May 27, 2024
• Publication Date: 2024-08
• Deposit Date: May 28, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 11, 2024
• Journal: Food Research International
• Print ISSN: 0963-9969
• Electronic ISSN: 1873-7145
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 190
• Article Number: 114574
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2024.114574
• Keywords: Entomophagy, Insects as food, Sensory analysis, House cricket, Yellow mealworm, King mealworm, Green tree ant, Tyrant ant
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/35430510
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0963996924006446?via%3Dihub