The EU has Approved Bugs as Food Ingredients for Humans

The European Union has recently authorised numerous different insect-derived foods for humans, which signifies a step towards the search for alternative protein sources.

As per the EU Novel Food directive, an insect-based food product must pass extreme safety assessments for public consumption in the EU.

Some of the insects approved are the yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor), which can be utilized in frozen or dried and powdered form, house cricket, migratory locusts, and lesser mealworm.

Yellow mealworm(Tenebrio molitor)

House cricket (Acheta domesticus)

Migratory locust (Locusta migratoria)

Lesser mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus)

The insect-derived ingredients can be utilized in food items like baked products, protein bars, and many other processed food items inclusive of appropriate labeling information. The European Food Safety Authority is the ruling body responsible for evaluating the insect-based food items.

According to studies, insects contain vital nutrients like fats, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Allergy risks must always be kept in mind because insect proteins can cause allergic responses to patients allergic to shellfish or dust mite allergens. Hence, people advocate for the use of insects in food as insect farming may be more sustainable than animal production because insects are known to require less feed, land, and water among other resources.

However, one of the main issues in many countries in Europe is consumer acceptance of insect-based food products.

References

European Commission

EU Regulation