The decision gives hope to other insect food makers that their own unusual food products may be approved for sale.
The European Union’s food safety agency said on Wednesday that some dried mealworms are safe for human consumption under a new EU food law, the first time an insect-based food product has been assessed.
The approval by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) opens the door to selling dried mealworms in European supermarkets as snacks or as an ingredient in foods such as pasta powder, but requires official approval from EU government officials. It also gives hope to other insect food producers that their products will also be approved.
”EFSA’s first risk assessment of insects as novel foods could pave the way for a first EU-wide approval,” said Ermolaos Ververis, researcher at EFSA’s Nutrition Division.
Mealworms, which eventually turn into beetles, taste “very much like peanuts,” according to food websites, and can be pickled, dipped in chocolate, sprinkled on salads, or added to soups.
They are also a good source of protein and have some environmental benefits, says Mario Mazzocchi, an economic statistician and professor at the University of Bologna.
“Replacing traditional animal protein with one that uses less feed, produces less waste and emits fewer greenhouse gases would have clear environmental and economic benefits,” Mazzocchi said in a statement. “Lower costs and prices could improve food security and new demand could create economic opportunities, but it could also impact existing industries.”
But like any new food, insects pose unique safety concerns for regulators, from the microorganisms and bacteria that may be present in their guts to potential allergens in the feed. A report on mealworms released Wednesday noted that “allergic reactions may occur” and called for more research into the issue.
The committee also says mealworms are safe to eat as long as you fast for 24 hours before killing them (to reduce their microbial content). After that, they need to be boiled “to eliminate potential pathogens and reduce or kill bacteria before the insects can be processed further,” says Wolfgang Gelbmann, a senior scientist at EFSA’s nutrition department.
The final product could be used by athletes in the form of protein bars, cookies and pasta, Gelbman said.
The European Food Safety Authority has seen a rise in applications for specialty foods since the EU revised its new food rules in 2018, aiming to make it easier for companies to bring their products to market. The agency is currently reviewing the safety of seven other insect products, including mealworms, house crickets, striped crickets, black soldier flies, honey bee drones and a type of grasshopper.
Giovanni Sogari, a social and consumer researcher at the University of Parma, said: “Cognitive reasons stemming from our social and cultural experiences, the so-called ‘disgust factor’, make many Europeans feel uncomfortable at the thought of eating insects. Disgust.”
National EU experts in the so-called PAFF committee will now decide whether to formally approve the sale of mealworms in supermarkets, a decision that could take several months.
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Post time: Dec-24-2024