Cricket Pasta with fork

Dr. Nednapis Vatanasuchart (M.Sc. Nutrition, Ph.D. Food Science, from Kasetsart University, Bangkok) evaluated the nutrition contents of our Cricket Pasta, in particular compared to other traditional pastas. Her complete report follows below: 

 

tab thai professor nutrition

 

Nutritional Benefits of Bugsolutely Cricket Pasta

Bugsolutely Cricket Pasta contains good nutritional qualities. One serving size of 55 g dry pasta provides energy of 210 kcal, 3 g fat, 35 g carbohydrate, 12 g protein, 3 g dietary fiber, 80 mg sodium, 5 g sugar and 0.62 mcg vitamin B12, as shown in table.

 

This cricket fusilli is especially high in protein, containing 12 g, which is 24% of DRV (Daily Reference Values), thus this product can be claimed ‘high or rich in protein’ according to the nutrient content claims established by the USFDA. In addition, when compared to similar products sold in the supermarket, this fusilli has about double the amount of protein, as shown in table. Functionally, protein is a “macronutrient,” meaning that the body needs relatively large amounts of it for maintaining good health. Protein is an essential component of every cell in the body. Your body uses protein to build and repair tissues, and hair and nails are even made mostly of protein. You use protein to make enzymes, hormones, and other body chemicals and protein is, of course, an important building block of bones, muscles, cartilage, skin and blood.

 

It is a nutritious source of dietary fiber. Foods containing fiber provide health benefits such as helping to maintain a healthy weight and lowering the risk of diabetes and heart disease as well as the ability to prevent or relieve constipation. This fusilli contains 3 g of dietary fiber which is 12% of DRV, which can be claimed as ‘good source’ of dietary fiber.

 

The Cricket Pasta is also a food source that contains vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that helps to make a healthy nervous system, red blood cells and digestive system. It is responsible for energy production and also protects against high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and cancer. It is essential for cell reproduction and constant renewal of healthy skin, hair and nails. Commonly, Vitamin B12 is rare from plant sources, and pastas made from wheat without egg contains no vitamin B12. The highest amount of vitamin B12 that we managed to find in Pasta, was fresh-refrigerated, containing egg, plain, as purchased which has 0.31 mcg of vitamin B12 per 100g. Bugsolutely Cricket Pasta contains 0.62 mcg per one serving size (55 g) of vitamin B12, about four times higher. When calculated into % DRV, the content is about 10% of DRV which can be claimed as ‘good source’ of vitamin B12 as well.

 

Evaluated by: Dr. Nednapis Vatanasuchart (M.Sc. Nutrition, Ph.D. Food Science)

Expert Researcher, Institute of Food Research and Product Development, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand.

 

3 Comments
  1. Ron Moses 8 years ago

    I’m happy about the increased protein (though I would be even more thrilled by a corresponding decrease in carbs), but 30x the sodium? Does it take that much salt to make cricket palatable?

    • Author
      maxreve 8 years ago

      Thank you for your comment, Ron. Actually we do not add salt to the product or to the crickets. Also, the feed back we got in this first weeks do not mention any salty taste. From the nutritional standpoint, we just asked to our food export to provide details, this is his answer:

      The carbs are down by 10% to 15% compared to the traditional pasta samples we compared it with. Regarding the high quantity of sodium in our pasta, this comes from the cricket flour. In my opinion this is not a problem, rather it could be considered beneficial, because Cricket Pasta also have a high potassium level. The ratio between sodium and potassium is the key to evaluate their levels, and in particular the potassium should be higher than sodium. In simple words, potassium tends to neutralize the sodium negative effects (for example high blood pressure), which is supposed to be the case with the cricket flour in Cricket Pasta for it contains 2,86 times more potassium than sodium.

    • Ron Moses 8 years ago

      Thank you, that’s a very informative answer. I appreciate the response!

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