News Briefs
The European Union recently allowed Acheta Domesticus, better known as the house cricket, to show up on European Union consumers’ tables. The newly approved regulation will allow food producers to introduce the partially defatted powder of Acheta Domesticus to the E.U. food market.
The E.U. Commission passed the application presented in 2019 by the Cricket One Company. Now, food producers can use the powder in the production of several foods, including pizza and pasta-based products, nuts and oilseeds, snacks and sauces, meat preparations and soups, multigrain bread and rolls, crackers and breadsticks, cereal bars, dry pre-mixes for baked products, biscuits, processed potato products, legume- and vegetable-based dishes, whey powder, maize flour-based snacks, beer-like beverages and chocolate confectionery.
The go-ahead came on the heels of the scientific opinion expressed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which verified and approved the safety of the new powder.
See Also:Health NewsEFSA also approved the powder production process, which includes a 24-hours fasting period for the insects before they are frozen, washed, thermally processed, have their oil extracted and, finally, transformed into dried-up powder.
The march of house crickets into European kitchens will not be completed alone. On January 6th, the E.U. Commission also approved the introduction of the frozen, paste, dried and powdered forms of Alphitobius diaperinus larvae, also known as the lesser mealworm, to the consumer food market.
Lesser mealworm larvae have also been found safe by the EFSA and, in the approved forms, are now allowed as ingredients in several food products destined for the general population. The powder of the mealworm larvae will also be used as a food supplement.
Food containing the insect products will require appropriate labels. Some researchers believe that these food items could cause reactions in consumers allergic to crustaceans, mollusks and dust mites.
The two insect preparations will join the list of E.U.-approved insect foods, including dried Tenebrio Molitor mealworm and the dried powder of the migratory locust.
Besides such approvals, eight other applications for insect foods have been presented to the European Union and are currently under evaluation.
The E.U. Commission’s dedicated website explained that “the consumption of insects (…) contributes positively to the environment and to health and livelihoods.” The E.U. executive branch also noted that insects “are a highly nutritious and healthy food source with high fat, protein, vitamin, fibre and mineral content. Therefore, they are an alternative protein source facilitating the shift towards healthy and sustainable diets.”
The new Acheta and Aplhitobius regulations will take effect at the end of the month.
More articles on: European Commission, foodservice, trending
Feb. 6, 2023
Research Reveals How Deadly Pathogen Infects Olive Trees
Researchers from the University of Córdoba studied how fluid emitted by olive tree roots facilitates the germination of the fungus responsible for Verticillium wilt.
Jul. 13, 2022
Signs of Life from Millenary Olive Tree Burned in Sardinian Wildfires
Volunteers and researchers responsible for restoring the tree warn that more needs to be done to prevent future wildfires.
Jun. 6, 2022
New Zealand Producers Enjoy Strong Showing at World Competition
Producers from New Zealand celebrated their success at the NYIOOC World Competition, earning their second-highest tally of awards.
May. 25, 2022
French Farmers Feel Impacts of Worsening Drought
A lack of rainfall last autumn and winter combined with low soil moisture and water levels means water restrictions are already being implemented across southern France.
Jun. 2, 2022
In Turkey, Study Recommends Investments in Olive Farms Instead of Coal Mines
Expanding the olive oil sector of Turkey's olive-growing capital is a cost-effective and climate-friendly solution that would boost the local economy, a report suggests.
Jul. 11, 2022
Trade Group Opposes Proposed Retail Sales of Bulk Olive Oil in Europe
Consumers and environmental associations advocate retail sales of olive oil in bulk in the E.U. as a more environmental-friendly practice. Fedolive strongly disagrees.
Jan. 11, 2023
Greece’s New CAP Plan Approved By European Commission
The E.U. will release more than €13 billion from 2023-2027 to back the Greek agricultural sector. However, new provisions in the policy are alarming some farmers.
Jun. 9, 2022
Tuscan Producers Triumph at NYIOOC, Overcoming Late Frosts and Summer Heat
Painstaking work in the grove, without forgetting the importance of sustainable farming, propelled Tuscan farmers to a leading role at the World Competition.