SPECIALLY COLLECTED PAPERS
Shimadzu Review 81[3・4] (2024)
Abstract
There is growing interest in edible insects as a sustainable food source due to their high nutritional value and low environmental impact. A report published in 2013 by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) noted how food scarcity would become an increasingly serious issue due to a growing world population and proposed that edible insects could be an effective solution to this issue. Although the market for edible insects is expanding globally and academic research in this field has increased since that report, there remains inadequate information on the mineral content of edible insects. Minerals are vital for human health and play an essential role in a healthy diet, and the detailed analysis of mineral content provides essential scientific backing for the benefits of edible insects.
Analyzing levels of hazardous heavy metals is also essential for evaluating food safety. Because hazardous heavy metals present in feed or the rearing environment can accumulate in edible insects, levels of hazardous heavy metals must be understood to ensure edible insects are safe to eat.
This article describes using an ALTRACE energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer to analyze the mineral and hazardous heavy metal content of crickets, which are one of the most popular types of edible insect. This article also discusses the benefits of energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry based on the simplicity of sample prepara-tion and the rapid analysis possible with this technique.
Material & Infrastructure Solution Unit, Solutions Center of Excellence, Analytical & Measuring Instruments Division, Shimadzu Corporation, Kyoto, Japan
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