Clear labelling rules for insects as foodstuffs

In contrast to other parts of the world, insects are still rarely found on plates in Europe. They have to be approved as novel foods in the EU according to the Novel Food Regulation. To do so, they have to undergo a testing procedure to confirm that they are safe for human health.

Four insect species are currently approved as food in the EU:

• the "mealworm", which are the larvae of the flour beetle (Tenebrio molitor)
• the migratory locust (Locusta migratoria)
• the house cricket (Acheta domesticus)
• the "Buffalo worm", which are the larvae of the grain mould beetle (Alphitobius diaperinus)

If these insects are contained in a food, they must be explicitly mentioned in the list of ingredients on the label. There must also be a statement about the potential allergenicity of the ingredient. People who are allergic to crustaceans , molluscs or even house dust mites could also have an allergic reaction against the insect ingredients in the food.

YOUR PLUS: AGROLAB food laboratories not only test the novel ingredients based on the approved insects and foods made from them for contaminants and their nutritional content, but also check the correct declaration. Our allergen test for crustacean proteins also detects possible insect proteins, but does not allow species-specific identification.

Further information (in German)

Author: Dr. Frank Mörsberger