EFFECT OF KILLING AND TECHNOLOGICAL PROCESSING ON MICROBIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF EDIBLE INSECTS

This study aimed to assess the effect of killing (blanching and freezing) followed by culinary processing on the microbiological quality of Tenebrio molitor and Gryllus assimilis. These insects were subjected to starvation before killing, which does not ensure sufficient microbiological safety. Therefore, technological or culinary processing of insects is necessary before consumption. For the subsequent processing of insects, boiling, drying, roasting, and microwave treatment were used. Nine categories of microbiological parameters were selected as indicators of hygienic quality. All identification and enumeration were performed using ISO-compliant methods. The results showed that killing insects by blanching or freezing alone does not ensure sufficient microbiological quality, and therefore, further culinary processing is necessary. However, all subsequent culinary treatments applied in this study were able to reduce the microbial load significantly.