The EU has approved a new mealworm powder for human consumption. It is the latest addition to the Union’s efforts to promote insects in food.
Insects are considered novel foods in the EU, which means they were not widely consumed before May 15, 1997. To be approved, they must be examined by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Only the company that gets its food approved has the right to produce and distribute it, and the authorization is valid for five years.
In recent years, the EU has approved a number of insect species for human consumption: mealworms, buffalo larvae, house crickets and grasshoppers can now be used in frozen, dried or powdered form in products such as bread, crisps and food supplements.
Two companies can sell mealworms
The EU has now approved UV-treated whole mealworm powder for human consumption following an application by the French company Nutri’Earth. Previously, mealworms have been approved for use frozen, dried or in powder form by the company Fair Insects BV. In other words, this means that two different companies are allowed to produce and distribute mealworms.
Under current rules, the list of ingredients must clearly state whether a food contains insects. As they can cause cross-allergies, clear labelling on the packaging is also required.
Viruses and heavy metals
Insects are often promoted as a more environmentally friendly food because they require less land, water and feed. At the same time, there are risks, as studies show that insects can contain heavy metals, bacteria and viruses.
Despite the EU’s efforts to promote insects, countries such as Italy have chosen to ban them completely. The reason is that they do not want insects to be associated with Italian cuisine.
