Either as a dried whole or as a powder

European Food Safety Authority: "Beetles" are edible

The French company Insect thought that athletes' nutrition might be a suitable market for this product.

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Yesterday, a health regulator in the European Union gave the green light to the consumption of foods derived from a species of beetle, a first step leading to a decision in Brussels to allow insects to be adopted as food in Europe.

The European Food Safety Authority, after studying a request from the French insect breeding company, Agronotris, concluded that the meal worm larvae are safe for consumption, either as a dried whole insect or as a powder.

The experts explained: "There is no nutritional harm from consuming (mealworms), due to its rich protein and fiber composition, but they saw the need for more research on the possibility of allergic reactions."

It is expected that the European Commission will present to member states - based on the opinion of the European Food Safety Authority - a draft proposal to allow the placing of dried "meal worms" and derivative products on the market, including conditions for their sale.

The sector hopes to have a final green light by mid-2021.

"This first assessment of the dangers of an insect as a new food may pave the way for the first approval of this type at the level of the European Union," explained the scientific director of the unit responsible for studying this file at the European Commission.

He added, "Our assessment is a critical step to ensure consumer safety, which became mandatory with the entry into force of European Union regulations on new foods in January 2018."

The agency, based in Parma, Italy, is looking into the viability of crickets and grasshoppers for consumption.

It is estimated that 1,000 species of insects are consumed in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

In the European Union, the insects that produce a few thousand specialized farms annually are used as food for farm animals, especially fish.

Provides energy for athletes

The European Trade Union of Insect Producers welcomed the opinion of the European Food Safety Authority, describing it as a "big step forward that encourages" other European producers of worms and other types of edible insects who also want to market food. "

The union noted that insects can be boiled, fried, dried, smoked or ground into powder or flour for use in pasta, feeding bars and biscuits.

He emphasized that insect-based products rich in protein, minerals, vitamins and fiber, as well as healthy fatty acids and "omega-6 and 3", can prevent nutrients deficiency in the body, stressing that the environmental impact of raising them on farms is limited compared to other protein sources.

The French company "Insect", the leading producer of insect powder for animal feed, submitted a file to the European Commission, and to its US counterpart, the Food and Drug Administration, regarding an ingredient it produced for human consumption that "depends on unsaturated insect proteins."

The company, which produces insect flour for farmed fish, suggested that athletes ’nutrition might be a suitable market for this product.

Antoine Aubert, general manager of the company, which entered into a commitment with a client for this new market, revealed that it is seeking to use these components in the manufacture of "energy panels that help (athletes) recover their energy and prepare for the effort."

It aspires for this sector to represent "10% of the sales volume in the next five years."

Experts: "There is no nutritional harm in consuming protein and fiber (mealworms) rich in protein."

"The Authority" is looking into the viability of crickets and grasshoppers for consumption.

1,000 species of insects are consumed in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

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