The EU has approved the use of protein-rich beetle larvae as snacks or ingredients – as a new green food product.
Dried mealworms could soon be appearing on supermarket and restaurant shelves across Europe.
The 27-nation European Union on Tuesday approved a proposal to market mealworm larvae as a “novel food”.
It comes after the EU’s food safety agency published scientific findings earlier this year saying the products were safe to eat.
They are the first insects approved for human consumption by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
Whether eaten whole or ground into powder, the worms could be used as an ingredient in protein-rich snacks or other foods, the researchers said.
They are rich not only in protein, but also in fat and fibre, and are likely to be the first of many insects to grace European dinner tables in the coming years.
Although the market for insects as food is very small, EU officials say growing insects for food is good for the environment.
Eurogroup President Pascal Donohoe said the first meeting between the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer and EU finance ministers since Brexit was “very symbolic and important”.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations calls insects “a healthy and nutritious food source, rich in fats, proteins, vitamins, fibre and minerals.”
Rules allowing dried mealworms to be used as food will be introduced in the coming weeks after EU countries gave their approval on Tuesday.
But while mealworms can be used to make biscuits, pasta and curries, their “yuck factor” could put off consumers, researchers say.
The European Commission also warned that people with allergies to crustaceans and dust mites may experience allergic reactions after eating mealworms.
Post time: Dec-24-2024