Insects for iron
Eating insects might make some people squeamish, but they are already part of the diet of millions of people worldwide. Researchers at ETH Zurich explored insects as source of dietary iron. Nikolin Hilaj and Diego Moretti present their findings in our new film.
Iron deficiency is considered the most common nutrient deficiency in the world. Meat, fish, and poultry provide iron for many, but meat production causes negative impacts on the environment, including greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation. Researchers at ETH Zurich investigated if insects, especially mealworms, can be a more sustainable source of iron.
By measuring iron uptake from insect-based meals, they determined the iron from mealworms is well-absorbed in humans. In this new video, Nikolin Hilaj and Diego Moretti explain all their findings.
The project entitled Measurement and optimization of iron bioavailability in sustainably produced insect based foods was funded through the World Food System Center Sustainability in Food Value Chains Research Program.