Message to Gabonese people: “Are you ready to eat insect-based foods like a Westerner?”

Insect consumption is not as common in Gabon compared to other African countries. Moreover, this food practice is threatened by the westernization of eating habits, which is particularly exacerbated in urban areas. Innovation is one of the solutions to promote entomophagy. For example, in Western countries, insect industry develops new foods, consisting in familiar foods (pasta, crackers, etc.) enriched with insects, to promote entomophagy. Could such a strategy be replicated in Gabon?
A study was conducted in urban areas of Gabon (i.e. Libreville and Franceville) to answer this question. This study consisted in face-to-face interviews with 416 respondents (mean age: 38.17 ± 11.39 years old). The willingness to eat (WTE) and the willingness to pay (WTP) for two insect-based foods (i.e. baguette and hamburger) were recorded. This survey also collected general information relative to entomophagy in Gabon (e.g. consumer acceptance, experience of eating insects, etc.).
Almost 60% of respondents would accept to eat insects (i.e. potential eaters) and many of them have already had this eating experience. However, this food habit is not particularly common as many insect eaters consumed insects yearly or less frequently. Over 80% of potential eaters would be willing to eat at least one insect-based food. WTP for baguette enriched with insects was similar to average price of a conventional baguette. In contrast, respondents wanted to pay less for a hamburger with insects than the average price of a conventional burger.