Beth Miller, professor in the Department of Kinesiology, Nutrition, and Health, collaborated with Matthew Bennett, a 2023 undergraduate nutrition graduate who completed Miami’s graduate Dietetic Internship program in 2024, and Michael Hughes from the Statistical Consulting Center on a newly published study in the Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition. Their article, “Knowledge and willingness to consume insects as an alternative protein source among Midwestern college students in the US,” examines how Generation Z students view edible insects as a sustainable protein option.

The team surveyed 187 Midwestern college students and found that while most had not tried insects, more than half expressed potential willingness if the environmental benefits were emphasized. The study also identified major barriers, including feelings of disgust and concerns about safety, as well as a general lack of knowledge about insect farming and nutrition. The authors note that integrating insect-related topics into sustainability and nutrition education may help increase familiarity and openness to alternative proteins.

Miller, M. E., Bennett, M., & Hughes, M. (2025). Knowledge and willingness to consume insects as an alternative protein source among Midwestern college students in the US. Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition, 20(6), 996–1010.

(AI tools Grammarly and ChatGPT 4.0 assisted with this article.)