The decision gives hope to other insect food producers that their own unique food products may be approved for sale.
The European Union’s food safety agency said on Wednesday that some types of dried mealworms are safe for human consumption, according to the first assessment of insect food products under the bloc’s new food laws.
The approval by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) opens the door to dried mealworms being sold in European supermarkets as snacks or as a powdered ingredient in products such as pasta, subject to official approval by EU national authorities. It also gives hope to other insect food producers that their products will also be approved.
“This is the first risk assessment carried out by EFSA on insects as novel foods and it could pave the way for a first EU-level approval,” said Ermolaus Ververis, researcher at EFSA’s Nutrition Division.
According to a specialized website, mealworms eventually grow into beetles that taste “very much like peanuts” and can be pickled, dipped in chocolate, sprinkled on salads, or added to soups.
They are also a good source of protein and may offer some environmental benefits, says Mario Mazzocchi, an economic statistician and professor at the University of Bologna.
“Replacing traditional animal protein sources with proteins that require less feed, produce less waste and emit fewer greenhouse gases will have clear environmental and economic benefits,” Mazzocchi said in a statement. “Lower costs and prices can improve food security and new demand can create economic opportunities, but it can also impact existing industries.”
But like any new food, insects pose special safety concerns for regulators, from the microbes and bacteria that may be present in their guts to potential allergens in their feed. Wednesday’s report on mealworms noted that “allergic reactions may occur” and called for further research.
The European Food Safety Authority also says mealworms are safe to eat if they are not fed for 24 hours before slaughter (to reduce microbial content). They must then be boiled “to eliminate potential pathogens and reduce or kill bacteria before further processing,” said Wolfgang Gelbmann, a senior scientist in the EFSA’s nutrition department.
According to Gelbman, athletes will be able to use the resulting product in protein bars, cookies and pasta.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has seen a sharp rise in applications for specialty foods since the EU revised its new food regulation in 2018, which aims to simplify the steps companies take to bring products to market. The agency is currently reviewing the safety of seven other insect products, including tiny yellow mealworms, house crickets, striped crickets, black soldier flies, honey bee drones and a type of locust.
“Cognitive reasons stemming from our social and cultural experiences, the so-called ‘disgust factor’, make the idea of eating insects disgusting for many Europeans,” said Giovanni Sogari, a researcher in social and consumer issues at the University of Parma.
National EU experts from the so-called PAFF committee will now decide whether mealworms should be officially approved for sale in supermarkets, a decision that could take several months.
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Post time: Jun-21-2025