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Assessment of Nutritional Quality and Mineral Composition of Dried Edible Zonocerus variegatus (Grasshopper)

I Sani, M Haruna, A Abdulhamid, AA Warra, F Bello and IM Fakai.

There are more than 400 known species of edible insects. Many species of these insects have been used as traditional foods among various communities. Insects have played an important part in the history of human nutrition in Africa. Thus the aim of this research is to evaluate the nutritional value and mineral composition of edible Zonocerus variegatus (grasshopper). To evaluate the nutritional value, proximate, antinutrient and mineral elemental composition were analyzed using standard methods. The result of the proximate analysis revealed the following: Moisture (5.33±1.16%), Ash (11.50±3.04%), Crude lipid (49.33± 2.08%), Crude fiber (2.03±1.01%), Protein (2.19±0.87%) and Carbohydrate content (29.61±4.21%). The concentrations (mg/100g) of the antinutrients in this edible insect are; 11.25±0.46 for oxalate, 2.18±0.24 for phytate and 3.90 ±0.1 for tannin. The mineral composition (mg/kg) revealed, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu and Zn with 0.02±0.00, 0.04± 0.01, 1.12± 0.07, 0.57±0.08, 1.84±0.05, 0.20±0.01 and 1.63±0.01 respectively. This research shows that the edible grasshopper contains significant amount of nutritional and mineral components, with less concentrations of antinutrients. Therefore, it can be recommended especially for children, pregnant women and aged people.