Would you eat honeybee pupae? – A Swiss study explores

Insects as a sustainable food option are gaining attention. Honeybee drone pupae, a by-product of honey production, offer a nutrient-rich alternative with environmental benefits. Irmak Uzundemir Bischof investigated whether people in Switzerland are ready to embrace this novel food and what influences their willingness to try it.

As the global population continues to rise, food demand is projected to surge by 50% by 2050. Traditional farming methods may struggle to meet this challenge, prompting scientists worldwide to explore alternative solutions like insects, mycoprotein (fermented fungus), and cultured meat (lab-grown meat).

Entomophagy, or the consumption of insects, has roots in prehistoric times. While accepted in many cultures, it still faces cultural and social resistance in others, particularly in Western societies. Eating habits are deeply intertwined with cultural norms, making such changes difficult to embrace. However, insects present a compelling case as a sustainable protein source: they require fewer resources and emit significantly less greenhouse gas compared to livestock. Yet, evolutionary mechanisms like disgust, a protective response against potential pathogens, continue to deter many people from giving them a try.

Honeybees as novel and sustainable food source

Honeybee broods, particularly drone pupae, are nutrient-dense, containing essential proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins (C and B complex), and minerals like potassium, magnesium, and calcium. 

Among insects, honeybees benefit from a relatively positive public perception due to their vital role in pollination – a service that directly supports agriculture and ecosystems. This empathy is counterbalanced by fears of their stings, which can trigger allergic reactions in some individuals. But persuading people to consume honeybee pupae? Not so easy…

Why sacrifice males?

During the honey production season, beekeepers often remove drone broods as part of varroa mite management. These mites, a major threat to bee populations, prefer drone broods for reproduction. Utilizing these male pupae as a by-product of honey production aligns with both ecological and economic goals. Drones, being larger, offer higher nutritional value than worker bees, making them an ideal candidate for human consumption.

Swiss opinion on drone consumption

Irmak Uzundemir Bischof, a master’s student at Zurich University of Applied Sciences, conducted a study on Apis mellifera (honeybee) drone pupae, which are expected to gain official novel food status in 2025. Her research aimed to explore consumer self-reported willingness to try this novel food in Switzerland, exploring different presentations of the honeybee drone pupae and personality traits such as openness to experience and disgust (pathogen disgust and food disgust).

To explore these questions, Irmak surveyed 155 participants and measured their motivation to consume honeybee drone pupae while gaining crucial information about their personalities. The survey targeted younger adults, predominantly in their late twenties to mid-thirties, with half holding a master’s degree or higher, therefore it is essential to acknowledge that demographics may limit the generalizability of the findings to the broader Swiss population.

What Irmak’s study tells us

“I think one of the most important finds of the study was that it was food disgust rather than pahtogen disgust that showed a significant effect on willingness to try honeybee drone pupae as food; showing that honeybee drones actually have a chance to be accepted as food, once gaining novel food status - which is very promising to see, especially in a culture where eating insects is not the norm.” Irmak summarizes her project with a sentence.

One hypothesis explored was that the way honeybee drone pupae are presented impacts people's willingness to try them. The results showed that participants were noticeably more open to tasting pupae coated in chocolate compared to those served in their natural form. This finding highlights how a familiar and appealing presentation can help reduce initial hesitation and make unfamiliar foods more approachable.

Another hypothesis tested whether promoting the pupae with claims of aphrodisiac or fertility-enhancing properties would make them more appealing. Surprisingly, these claims showed no significant increase in participants’ willingness to try the pupae. This suggests that overcoming aversion to novel foods is more complex and cannot be achieved with enticing claims alone.

The study faced challenges in analyzing how personality traits, such as openness to new experiences, or feelings of pathogen-related disgust influenced willingness to try the pupae. Limited data on these factors left some questions unanswered.

Despite these challenges, qualitative feedback revealed that many participants were curious about the taste and intrigued by the novelty of the food. However, common barriers like feelings of disgust, ethical concerns, and psychological discomfort remained strong. Participants also emphasized the importance of clear and transparent information about the environmental, ethical, and sustainability benefits of insect-based foods to help address these concerns.

Safety note

A recent study revealed that honeybee drone larvae contain 109 distinct proteins, confirming their status as a highly protein-rich food — a finding supported by numerous other studies. However, the larvae also harbor allergens that, in severe cases, can trigger life-threatening anaphylaxis, as documented in scientific literature. This highlights the critical need for further research into the safety of consuming bee broods, including drone pupae, to ensure it is safe for wider consumption.

Moreover, there is a risk of allergic cross-reactions for individuals with allergies to shellfish, crustaceans, or mites. Such individuals should avoid consuming drone broods to prevent potential health risks.