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by Staff
January 25,
2023
from
Novinite Website
Italian
version
Cricket Salad
The
insect craze is gaining steam in the EU.
Any
food may now contain insect protein as long as it is
labeled as such, e.g., "insect biscuits" or "insect
paste".
Technocrats partly reason that insects take fewer
resources to grow than other forms of agriculture like
row crops and animal husbandry.
Technocracy, of course,
is a resource based economic system that prizes
efficiency.
Source
New Rules
in the EU
allow the
Consumption of
Crickets and
Mealworm Larvae...
Domestic crickets and mealworm larvae will be allowed as food in the
European Union under
new regulations, DPA reported,
quoted by BTA.
Domestic crickets can be eaten frozen, dried or powdered from
Tuesday, and the use of mealworm larvae in food will be allowed from
Thursday.
Similar rules already exist for migratory locusts and yellow
mealworms.
The European Commission is currently considering another eight
applications to authorize the consumption of insect products, as
producers must apply for authorization for each insect species they
wish to place on the market.
Food containing insects must be labeled as such in the EU, including
the name of the species.
According to the committee's assessment, the
house cricket and
mealworm larvae are safe for human
consumption, but may pose a risk to those with food allergies.
Insects are considered nutritious and high in protein and are part
of traditional cuisine in many countries.
They can also contribute
to a sustainable diet as they can be grown with relatively few
resources.
"Very small
niche market"
"Deutsche
Welle" notes that the powder from the house cricket will
be able to be put in all possible foods.
In bread and rolls, in
pasta and cake mixes, in sauces and soups, in meat and milk
substitutes, in potato products or in chocolate, but also in other
products.
In such a case, the
products cannot be labeled as vegan or vegetarian.
The publication also writes that from Tuesday only the Vietnamese
company
Cricket One can offer partially
defatted domestic cricket (Acheta domesticus) powder on the single
market in the EU.
The cricket was already
included in the list of new foods after an analysis of scientific
studies. And from Thursday, January 26, larvae of the
flour beetle (Alphitobius
diaperinus) will be able to be processed.
@Pixabay
However, it is not yet clear whether and how quickly these products
will be introduced to the market.
Until now, the insect
food range is,
"really a very, very
small niche market," explains food chemist
Armin Valet of the
Consumer Advisory Center in Hamburg.
Currently, only a few
products with small amounts of insects are available in Germany -
desserts or macaronis.
Using insect powder to
make biscuits or flour won't happen anytime soon, Valet says.
Insects must be labeled as an ingredient on product packaging.
The European
Commission clarifies:
"Everyone can decide
for themselves whether to buy food produced from or containing
insects."
For his part, Valet calls
for clear labeling on packages. And in a way that is easily
understood by everyone.
For example "insect
biscuits" or "insect paste"...
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