Entomophagy presents the most viable and sustainable meat alternative to feed the ever-increasing world population as insects are highly nutritious. However, the potential of edible insects’ consumption is constrained by consumers’ fear towards novel or unfamiliar foods (food neophobia), which tends to be higher for insects. This paper assessed the influence of food neophobia and socio-cultural factors on the consumption and consumers’ willingness to consume three edible insects in Uganda (the long-horned grasshoppers, the flying African termites and the wingless red termites). Data were collected from 310 edible insects’ consumers from two culturally different regions in Uganda. Results show that culture and familiarity with edible insects are important determinants of edible insects’ consumption. Consumers with high levels of food neophobia were less likely to consume edible insects that were unfamiliar to them. Much as the population exhibited high levels of food neophobia, neophobia was not a significant predictor of future edible insect consumption. In addition, personal characteristics like education and age influenced both the level of food neophobia and consumption of insects. Therefore, consumption of edible insect should be promoted, keeping in mind specific cultural contexts and familiarity of specific edible insects among potential consumers. Improving knowledge of consumers about edible insects and their nutritional benefits could also lower their levels of food neophobia and improve willingness to consume insects.

中文翻译：

---

昆虫作为食物：阐明乌干达昆虫消费的食物恐惧症和社会文化动态

由于昆虫营养丰富，食虫提供了最可行和可持续的肉类替代品来养活不断增长的世界人口。然而，食用昆虫的消费潜力受限于消费者对新奇或不熟悉的食物的恐惧（食物恐惧症），而昆虫的恐惧感往往更高。本文评估了食物新恐症和社会文化因素对乌干达三种食用昆虫（长角蚱蜢、飞翔的非洲白蚁和无翅红白蚁）的消费和消费者消费意愿的影响。数据来自乌干达两个文化不同地区的 310 名食用昆虫消费者。结果表明，对食用昆虫的文化和熟悉程度是食用昆虫消费的重要决定因素。具有高度食物新恐惧症的消费者不太可能食用他们不熟悉的可食用昆虫。就像人群表现出高水平的食物新恐惧症一样，新恐惧症并不是未来食用昆虫消费的重要预测因素。此外，教育和年龄等个人特征影响食物新恐症的程度和昆虫的消费。因此，应促进食用昆虫的消费，同时牢记特定的文化背景和潜在消费者对特定食用昆虫的熟悉程度。提高消费者对食用昆虫及其营养益处的了解也可以降低他们的食物恐惧症水平并提高食用昆虫的意愿。就像人群表现出高水平的食物新恐惧症一样，新恐惧症并不是未来食用昆虫消费的重要预测因素。此外，教育和年龄等个人特征会影响食物新恐症的程度和昆虫的消费。因此，应促进食用昆虫的消费，同时牢记特定的文化背景和潜在消费者对特定食用昆虫的熟悉程度。提高消费者对食用昆虫及其营养益处的了解也可以降低他们的食物恐惧症水平并提高食用昆虫的意愿。就像人群表现出高水平的食物新恐惧症一样，新恐惧症并不是未来食用昆虫消费的重要预测因素。此外，教育和年龄等个人特征会影响食物新恐症的程度和昆虫的消费。因此，应促进食用昆虫的消费，同时牢记特定的文化背景和潜在消费者对特定食用昆虫的熟悉程度。提高消费者对可食用昆虫及其营养益处的了解也可以降低他们的食物恐惧症水平并提高食用昆虫的意愿。因此，应促进食用昆虫的消费，同时牢记特定的文化背景和潜在消费者对特定食用昆虫的熟悉程度。提高消费者对食用昆虫及其营养益处的了解也可以降低他们的食物恐惧症水平并提高食用昆虫的意愿。因此，应促进食用昆虫的消费，同时牢记特定的文化背景和潜在消费者对特定食用昆虫的熟悉程度。提高消费者对食用昆虫及其营养益处的了解也可以降低他们的食物恐惧症水平并提高食用昆虫的意愿。