Hi-Pro

Improved Utilization of Grasshopper Wanderer (Locusta migratoria) by Production of “Hi-Pro” (High Protein), A Nutrient Rich Jelly Candy: An Effort to Overcome Protein Energy Deficiency (PEM)

Annisa Ulfah Pristya, Fudhita Floridha
Brawijaya University

Reducing malnutrition number is one of the Millennium Development Goals or MDGs.  Malnutrition was recorded as many as 50% children in Asia are showing clinical signs of kwashiorkor or marasmus and caused 49% of the 10.4 million deaths in children under five in developing countries including Indonesia. Indonesia is among the top 5 countries with cases of malnutrition. There are 40% of the 33 provinces that figure is still below average of protein national intake. Deficiency of protein intake can cause disruption to the growth process, energy production, the body's protection, behavior, structure and brain patterns. In developing countries such as Indonesia, high protein foods such as meat, fish, and chicken are mostly expensive and unreachable for poor people. Due to abundant existence of protein source such as Grasshoppers Wanderer, it has great potential to be developed for commercial food production. The recent solution to solve the problem is giving a supplement tablets for protein supplementation but can cause nausea and constipation effects. Moreover, the level of compliance of the children to take supplements in tablet form is lower because children identify supplements with medications that have a bitter or unpleasant taste. The solution offered is the production of low-cost product with high value application, “Hi-Pro”, a nutrient rich jelly candy for children because it has diversity of flavors, colors, good appearance and has worldwide market as society demand from around the world and highly consumed by the children aged < 5 years old. The raw materials are used Grasshopper wanderer (Locusta migratoria), corn and seaweed as carrageenan. The main protein source is from Grasshopper wanderer (Locusta migratoria) that very abundant in Indonesia, lived throughout the year and can be harvested every three months world. In terms of nutrition, it contains 62.2 per cent per 100 grams, also does not cause toxic effects or dangerous if treated properly.  It also contains 71.55 % crude protein; 5.75 % fat; 2.50 % of minerals; 3.89 % crude fiber if the dry matter content of 100 %. The content is higher than fresh shrimp protein (21%), beef (18.8 %), chicken (18.2 %), eggs (12.8 %), and fresh cow's milk only (3.2 %) protein content. The protein content of corn grain is generally 8-11%, with the amino acids lysine and tryptophan 0.05% 0.225%. Carrageenan seaweed contains as much as 61.52%, 0.95% crude fiber. Each serving size (1 piece of candy/ 6 grams) of Hi-Pro contains 18.6 % protein. Each Hi-Pro package contains 20 pieces of candy at a price of Rp12.000 (0,9510 USD) per pack that can meet the daily protein requirement toddlers and children aged 4-6 years and cheaper than jelly candy commercial (3,96 USD per pack). Finally, this solution is expected to give a significant impact to social, health especially protein energy deficiency (PEM) and malnutrition, and economic in Indonesia.

Keywords: Children, Grasshopper wanderer, Malnutrition, MDGs, PEM