Patterns of consumption of edible insects among young people in three local government areas in Oyo state, Nigeria

Edible insects are a nutrient-packed delicacy in Nigeria. The study determines the edible insect consumption patterns as well as the associable factors affecting edible insect consumption among young people in Oyo state, Nigeria. Data were sourced from three local government areas in Oyo state; Oluyole, Ibadan North, and Ibadan southeast. A total of 372 pretested questionnaires were administered randomly to young people who were residents in the study area. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple response analysis. The relationships between variables were done by Chi-square and multiple response analysis. The results show that winged Termites, Crickets, Palm weevils, Emperor moths, Grasshoppers, snout Beetles, and Caterpillars respectively were identified as indigenous species mostly consumed by the respondents. Most of the respondents (69.4%) agreed to have eaten insects either in the past or still do, out of which 45.16% of them ate insects before but not anymore. This implies that there was a steady decline in the number of young people that consume edible insects in the study area. Respondents’ choice to eat insects is significantly related to their age and educational level. However, the low level of insect consumption may be linked to the respondents’ negative perception of edible insects and associated constraints such as the seasonal nature of the insects and the poor supply of edible insects. Hence, there is a need to source for ways to make edible insects more appealing to the youths in the study area.