Edible Insects: A Brief Introduction Maristela Midori Ozaki, Camila de Souza Paglarini, Fernanda Beatriz Jacquiminouth Lopes, Fabyo Alves de Souza, Karen Veiga Brum Luz, Marise Aparecida Rodrigues Pollonio, Ana Karoline Ferreira Ignácio Câmara Edible Insects Handling Methods Nutritional Value and Commercial Uses, 2026 The projected global population growth and environmental concerns have driven the search for alternative protein sources. Edible insects have emerged as a sustainable source of protein for both human and animal consumption. These insects possess high protein content, along with minerals essential for health, such as iron and zinc, and vitamins and bioactive compounds, such as peptides and polyphenols. They offer several advantages compared to traditional livestock farming, including lower greenhouse gas emissions, greater feed conversion efficiency, and lower land and water requirements. In addition, some insect species, such as the black soldier fly and crickets, are excellent options for stimulating the circular economy, as they can convert organic waste into quality protein. This topic also aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. In recent years, with global attention focused on the issue of sustainability, the promotion of rational insect farming worldwide has been accelerated for applications in food and feed. There has been an intensification in the use of automation and improvements in substrates for insect farming and genetics to increase productivity. In parallel, traditional processing technologies (such as oven drying, pasteurization, and boiling) and emerging technologies (such as enzymatic proteolysis, high-pressure processing, and ultrasound) have demonstrated viability in preparing insects and derived foods in a safe and nutritious manner. However, significant challenges must be overcome, such as creating strategies to increase consumer acceptance in Western societies, as well as addressing toxicological and allergenicity issues. Regulatory aspects are also crucial points of attention, and there is still no consensus or equal pace of development when considering this aspect in different parts of the world. Edible insects constitute a promising production chain with significant prospects, provided that different sectors of society act together, including industry, research, and government organizations.
Adding cricket (Gryllus assimilis) flour in hybrid beef patties: physicochemical, technological and sensory challenges Victória M. Gomes Martins, Patrícia Milano, Marise A. Rodrigues Pollonio, Mirian dos Santos, Aline Pedrosa de Oliveira, Luciana Kimie Savay‐da‐Silva, Ana K. Ferreira Ignácio Câmara, Camila de Souza Paglarini International Journal of Food Science and Technology, 2024 SummaryThe effect of replacing partially lean meat (21.7% protein, 4.5% fat) with cricket (Gryllus assimilis) flour (CF) in the physicochemical, technological and sensory properties of beef patties was evaluated. Four formulations were elaborated, a control with 66% w/w of beef (FC) and the others with substitution of the meat at 10 (F10%), 15 (F15%) and 20% w/w (F20%) levels with CF. Analysis of chemical composition, shrinkage, cooking yield, moisture and fat retention, pH, colour, lipid oxidation (TBARS), texture and sensory profile (Acceptance test and CATA questions) were performed. An increase in fat content, moisture and fat retention was observed in products with cricket flour. Adding CF resulted in softer meat products with lower shrinkage and cooking loss. FC was lighter and redder than products with CF. TBARS values were higher as CF addition increased, with no difference among FC and F10%. FC and F10% had greater sensory acceptance (scores above 8.0 and 7.0 for overall liking, respectively). By the CATA test consumers linked FC and F10% with the descriptors associated with overall liking, such as burger aroma, meat aroma and juicy and F15% and F20% were associated with undesirable descriptors such strange and unpleasant aroma, bad and dry appearance, sandy and crumbly. The results showed that cricket flour could replace beef by a fraction of up to 10%, obtaining a hybrid meat product with appropriate technological and sensory characteristics.
Effect of high hydrostatic pressure on the physicochemical characteristics of low sodium mortadella containing a high level of mechanically deboned poultry chicken meat Renata do Nacimento, Vitor Andre Silva Vidal, Camila de Souza Paglarini, Rubén Domínguez, José M. Lorenzo, Julliane Carvalho Barros, Marcelo Cristianini, Marise Aparecida Rodrigues Pollonio Food Science and Technology International, 2024 High hydrostatic pressure (HHP) is an emerging technology that can be applied to improve the functional properties of emulsified meat products. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of HHP (100 and 200 MPa) on low-sodium mortadella produced with high content of mechanically deboned poultry meat (MDPM). Seven treatments were produced: FC (2.5% NaCl - control 1), F1-C (1.25% NaCl - control 2), F1-100 (1.25% NaCl and 100 MPa), F1-200 (1.25% NaCl and 200 MPa), F2-C (1.25% NaCl, 1.60% KCl), F2-100 (1.25% NaCl, 1.60% KCl, 100 MPa), and F2-200 (1.25% NaCl, 1.60% KCl, 200 MPa). Proximate composition, sodium content, emulsion stability, extraction yield of myofibrillar proteins, instrumental color, texture profile, and microstructure of the samples were evaluated. Pressurization and salt reduction did not affect chemical composition (moisture, fat and protein) of the samples, while HHP increased protein extraction, forming a more compact, homogeneous and better distributed gel, improving emulsion stability and increasing mortadella hardness. Therefore, this technique could effectively compensate the deterioration in the protein gel matrix caused by salt reduction. Studies are necessary to investigate the effects of HPP on sensory properties and lipid oxidation of mortadella.
Salted Meat Products: Nutritional Characteristics, Processing and Strategies for Sodium Reduction Vitor A. S. Vidal, Camila S. Paglarini, Jose M. Lorenzo, Paulo E.S. Munekata, Marise A. R. Pollonio Food Reviews International, 2023 The category of salted meat products is very diversified and are widely appreciated and consumed worldwide due to their unique sensory characteristics and high nutritional value. As some salted meat products are stable at ambient temperature, they are considered a safe strategy. However, they have been criticized due to some high levels of sodium, which if consumed in excess may increase the risk of developing certain health disorders. In this context, this work discusses in detail, the characteristics, processing, different strategies for sodium reduction and the effect of sodium chloride (NaCl) reduction in the category of salted meat products, as well as the main new technologies used in the salting and dehydration stages to optimize processes and improve the quality of final products.
Inulin gelled emulsion as a fat replacer and fiber carrier in healthier Bologna sausage Camila de Souza Paglarini, Vitor Andre Silva Vidal, Maristela Midori Ozaki, Ana Paula Badan Ribeiro, Oigres Daniel Bernardinelli, Ana Karoline Ferreira Ignácio Câmara, Ana M Herrero, Claudia Ruiz-Capillas, Edvaldo Sabadini, Marise Aparecida Rodrigues Pollonio Food Science and Technology International, 2022
Meat products as prebiotic food carrier Ana Karoline Ferreira Ignacio Câmara, Camila de Souza Paglarini, Vitor André Silva Vidal, Mirian dos Santos, Marise Aparecida Rodrigues Pollonio Advances in Food and Nutrition Research, 2020
Functional emulsion gels as pork back fat replacers in Bologna sausage Camila de Souza Paglarini, Guilherme de Figueiredo Furtado, Alice Raissa Honório, Letícia Mokarzel, Vitor Andre da Silva Vidal, Ana Paula Badan Ribeiro, Rosiane Lopes Cunha, Marise Aparecida Rodrigues Pollonio Food Structure, 2019
Functional emulsion gels with potential application in meat products Camila de Souza Paglarini, Guilherme de Figueiredo Furtado, João Paulo Biachi, Vitor Andre Silva Vidal, Silvana Martini, Marcus Bruno Soares Forte, Rosiane Lopes Cunha, Marise Aparecida Rodrigues Pollonio Journal of Food Engineering, 2018
Edible Insects: A Brief Introduction MM Ozaki, C de Souza Paglarini, FBJ Lopes, FA de Souza, KVB Luz, ... Edible Insects, 1-29 , 2026 2026
Are commercial plant extracts efficient antioxidants in cooked and frozen beef, pork, chicken and mechanically deboned chicken meat patties? CS Paglarini, VAS Vidal, IA Neri-Numa, GM Pastore, MAR Pollonio Food and Humanity 4, 100514 , 2025 2025 Citations: 2
Addition of prebiotic jabuticaba pulp (Myrciaria cauliflora) as sweetener in kefir H Suzin, FCA Brod, VAS Vidal, C de Souza Paglarini Research, Society and Development 14 (3), e11314348556-e11314348556 , 2025 2025
Effect of high hydrostatic pressure on the physicochemical characteristics of low sodium mortadella containing a high level of mechanically deboned poultry chicken meat R Nacimento, VAS Vidal, C de Souza Paglarini, R Domínguez, ... Food Science and Technology International, 10820132241261133 , 2024 2024 Citations: 1
Hybrid meat products: Using plant, Fungi, and insect sources for flexitarian diets—Technological, nutritional and sensory insights AKFI Câmara, MM Ozaki, C de Souza Paglarini, M dos Santos, ... Food analogues: Emerging methods and challenges, 245-289 , 2024 2024 Citations: 3
Effect of processing (cutter versus continuous emulsifier) and sodium reduction on the physicochemical properties of bologna sausages R do Nacimento, VAS Vidal, C de Souza Paglarini, PES Munekata, ... Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 104 (2), 1207-1212 , 2024 2024 Citations: 3
Efeito do ultrassom e de ingredientes funcionais em emulsões cárneas com reduzido teor de fosfato e cloreto de sódio MB Pinton, PCB Campagnol, AJ Cichoski, CS Paglarini, MV Ramella, ... 2024
Structure, texture, and sensory properties of hybrid mortadella with whole and defatted cricket (Gryllus assimilis) flour RF Oliveira, SJM Andrade, CS Paglarini, GF Costa, MAR Pollonio, ... Responsible meat production , 2024 2024
Psyllium (Plantago ovata forsk) gel and emulsion gel as fat replacers in phosphate-free and low salt sausages DG Sousa, JF Silva, GF Costa, JS Monteiro, JR Santos, CS Paglarini, ... Responsible meat production , 2024 2024
Adding cricket ( Gryllus assimilis ) flour in hybrid beef patties: physicochemical, technological and sensory challenges VM Gomes Martins, P Milano, MA Rodrigues Pollonio, M dos Santos, ... International Journal of Food Science and Technology 59 (1), 450-459 , 2024 2024 Citations: 32
Emulsified Meat Product with Oleogels for Reducing Saturated Fat Content C de Souza Paglarini, AKFI Câmara, TLT da Silva, MAR Pollonio Functional Meat Products, 69-80 , 2023 2023 Citations: 1
Influence of pre and post rigor pork meat on the physicochemical properties of sodium-reduced mortadella. R do Nascimento, VA Silva Vidal, C de Souza Paglarini, D Franco, ... Global Science & Technology 15 (3) , 2023 2023
Crickets as a promising alternative edible insect: nutritional and technological aspects and 3D printing prospective IR Ferreira, P Milano, MAR Pollonio, AKFI Câmara, C de Souza Paglarini 3D Printing of Sustainable Insect Materials, 41-68 , 2023 2023 Citations: 4
Salted meat products: nutritional characteristics, processing and strategies for sodium reduction VAS Vidal, CS Paglarini, JM Lorenzo, PES Munekata, MAR Pollonio Food Reviews International 39 (4), 2183-2202 , 2023 2023 Citations: 57
Effect of commercial plant extracts on the oxidative stability of mechanically deboned poultry meat during chilled storage CS Paglarini, VAS Vidal, IA Neri-Numa, GM Pastore, MAR Pollonio Food research international 164, 112358 , 2023 2023 Citations: 22
Brotos comestíveis: Qualidade nutricional, segurança microbiológica e potencial aplicação em novos produtos GAF dos Santos, JD Ferreira, JM de Paula, C de Souza Paglarini, ... Research, Society and Development 11 (9), e33911931870-e33911931870 , 2022 2022
Protein-based hydrogelled emulsions and their application as fat replacers in meat products: A review CS Paglarini, VAS Vidal, S Martini, RL Cunha, MAR Pollonio Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 62 (3), 640-655 , 2022 2022 Citations: 98
Inulin gelled emulsion as a fat replacer and fiber carrier in healthier Bologna sausage CS Paglarini, VAS Vidal, MM Ozaki, APB Ribeiro, OD Bernardinelli, ... Food Science and Technology International 28 (1), 3-14 , 2022 2022 Citations: 36
Reducing phosphate in low sodium and low‐cost meat emulsions: A healthier approach VAS Vidal, CS Paglarini, JR dos Santos, MAR Pollonio Journal of Food Processing and Preservation 45 (6), e15528 , 2021 2021 Citations: 6
Olive oil-based emulsion gels containing chia (Salvia hispanica L.) mucilage delivering healthy claims to low-saturated fat Bologna sausages AKFI Câmara, MM Ozaki, M Santos, VAS Vidal, WO Ribeiro, ... Food Structure 28, 100187 , 2021 2021 Citations: 59
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Functional emulsion gels as pork back fat replacers in Bologna sausage C de Souza Paglarini, G de Figueiredo Furtado, AR Honorio, L Mokarzel, ... Food structure 20, 100105 , 2019 2019 Citations: 223
Functional emulsion gels with potential application in meat products C de Souza Paglarini, G de Figueiredo Furtado, JP Biachi, VAS Vidal, ... Journal of food engineering 222, 29-37 , 2018 2018 Citations: 158
Using emulsion gels made with sonicated soy protein isolate dispersions to replace fat in frankfurters C de Souza Paglarini, S Martini, MAR Pollonio Lwt 99, 453-459 , 2019 2019 Citations: 152
Adding lysine and yeast extract improves sensory properties of low sodium salted meat VAS Vidal, JB Santana, CS Paglarini, MAAP da Silva, MQ Freitas, ... Meat Science 159, 107911 , 2020 2020 Citations: 133
Glyceryl monostearate-based oleogels as a new fat substitute in meat emulsion AC Ferro, C de Souza Paglarini, MAR Pollonio, RL Cunha Meat science 174, 108424 , 2021 2021 Citations: 126
Using inulin‐based emulsion gels as fat substitute in salt reduced Bologna sausage C de Souza Paglarini, VAS Vidal, W Ribeiro, AP Badan Ribeiro, ... Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 101 (2), 505-517 , 2021 2021 Citations: 123
Reducing 50% sodium chloride in healthier jerked beef: An efficient design to ensure suitable stability, technological and sensory properties VAS Vidal, JP Biachi, CS Paglarini, MB Pinton, PCB Campagnol, ... Meat Science 152, 49-57 , 2019 2019 Citations: 105
Protein-based hydrogelled emulsions and their application as fat replacers in meat products: A review CS Paglarini, VAS Vidal, S Martini, RL Cunha, MAR Pollonio Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 62 (3), 640-655 , 2022 2022 Citations: 98
Using dynamic sensory techniques to determine drivers of liking in sodium and fat-reduced Bologna sausage containing functional emulsion gels C de Souza Paglarini, VAS Vidal, M Dos Santos, LO Coimbra, ... Food Research International 132, 109066 , 2020 2020 Citations: 86
Emulsion gels based on pork skin and dietary fibers as animal fat replacers in meat emulsions: An adding value strategy to byproducts M Dos Santos, MM Ozaki, WO Ribeiro, C de Souza Paglarini, VAS Vidal, ... Lwt 120, 108895 , 2020 2020 Citations: 68
Olive oil-based emulsion gels containing chia (Salvia hispanica L.) mucilage delivering healthy claims to low-saturated fat Bologna sausages AKFI Câmara, MM Ozaki, M Santos, VAS Vidal, WO Ribeiro, ... Food Structure 28, 100187 , 2021 2021 Citations: 59
Physical properties of emulsion gels formulated with sonicated soy protein isolate CS Paglarini, S Martini, MAR Pollonio International Journal of Food Science and Technology 54 (2), 451-459 , 2019 2019 Citations: 59
Salted meat products: nutritional characteristics, processing and strategies for sodium reduction VAS Vidal, CS Paglarini, JM Lorenzo, PES Munekata, MAR Pollonio Food Reviews International 39 (4), 2183-2202 , 2023 2023 Citations: 57
Understanding the role of chia ( Salvia Hispanica L.) mucilage on olive oil-based emulsion gels as a new fat substitute in emulsified meat products AKFI Câmara, PK Okuro, M Santos, CS Paglarini, RL da Cunha, ... European Food Research and Technology 246 (5), 909-922 , 2020 2020 Citations: 54
Q Methodology: An interesting strategy for concept profile and sensory description of low sodium salted meat VAS Vidal, CS Paglarini, MQ Freitas, LO Coimbra, EA Esmerino, ... Meat Science 161, 108000 , 2020 2020 Citations: 49
Understanding the effect of different chloride salts on the water behavior in the salted meat matrix along 180 days of shelf life VAS Vidal, OD Bernardinelli, CS Paglarini, E Sabadini, MAR Pollonio Food research international 125, 108634 , 2019 2019 Citations: 47
Inulin gelled emulsion as a fat replacer and fiber carrier in healthier Bologna sausage CS Paglarini, VAS Vidal, MM Ozaki, APB Ribeiro, OD Bernardinelli, ... Food Science and Technology International 28 (1), 3-14 , 2022 2022 Citations: 36
Bamboo fiber improves the functional properties of reduced salt and phosphate‐free Bologna sausage IMC Magalhães, CS Paglarini, VAS Vidal, MAR Pollonio Journal of Food Processing and Preservation 44 (12), e14929 , 2020 2020 Citations: 36
Adding cricket ( Gryllus assimilis ) flour in hybrid beef patties: physicochemical, technological and sensory challenges VM Gomes Martins, P Milano, MA Rodrigues Pollonio, M dos Santos, ... International Journal of Food Science and Technology 59 (1), 450-459 , 2024 2024 Citations: 32
Meat products as prebiotic food carrier AKFI Câmara, C de Souza Paglarini, VAS Vidal, M Dos Santos, ... Advances in food and nutrition research 94, 223-265 , 2020 2020 Citations: 31