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[EviLore]

approval insect novel food

A selection of questions and answers compiled through the approval process.

food.ec.europa.eu

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What was adopted by the Commission and published in January 2025?​

On 20 January 2025, the Commission has authorised the placing on the market of UV-treated powder of whole Tenebrio molitor larvae (yellow mealworm) as a novel food.
The authorisation concerns the ultra-violet (UVB) light treated powder obtained from whole, thermally treated and ground Tenebrio molitor larvae (yellow mealworm).
The term “mealworm” refers to the larval form of Tenebrio molitor, an insect species that belongs to the family of Tenebrionidae (darkling beetles). It is intended to be marketed as a food ingredient in a number of food products for the general population.
The existing authorisations of these insects as novel foods will allow the applicants to place the different insect species on the EU market under certain conditions of use.

Why are we approving insects as food?​

Novel Food is defined as food that had not been consumed to a significant degree by humans in the EU before 15 May 1997, when the first Regulation on novel food came into force. Although there is anecdotal evidence of insects consumed as food in the past, no Member State has confirmed human consumption to a significant degree prior to 15 May 1997 for any insect species.
The Novel Food Regulation requires an authorisation before a novel food product can be placed on the Union market.
The Novel Food Regulation is only about the approval of a product, following a stringent scientific assessment made by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The Authority verifies, in light of the scientific evidence available, that the food does not pose a safety risk to human health.
What has happened this month is one of the final steps in the procedure for authorising UV-treated powder of whole Tenebrio molitor larvae (yellow mealworm) as a novel food. Member States gave their green light for the Commission to allow a food business operator, which had requested these authorisations, to place the product on the EU market. This has already happened to a number of insects such as yellow mealworm, migratory locust, house cricket, lesser mealworm in addition to partially defatted powder obtained from whole Acheta domesticus (house cricket).

Why should we eat insects?​

It is up to consumers to decide whether they want to eat insects or not. The use of insects as an alternate source of protein is not new and insects are regularly eaten in many parts of the world.
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Who asked for this...?

 

[Mikado]

Who asked for this...?

 

[Pegasus Actual]

Unacceptable, we don't do mealworms, only brain worms.

Send in the MAHA to MEHA:

 

[Puscifer]

All I'm saying is people you should really start sourcing from your local farmers as much as possible.

I buy half a pig and quarter cow and it's enough food for nearly a year for around 700 bucks this shit is horrid.

 

[DeafTourette]

No worse than beaver anal Castor sacs in food flavoring

 

[EerieArcade]

"Where is the line between food and insect? She wakes up in the morning and sees a spider in the bath. She says "Oh good, I'll leave the croissant for tomorrow and have that now".

 

[LectureMaster]

Who asked for this...?

"Experts"

 

[Kilau]

No worse than beaver anal Castor sacs in food flavoring

 

[Pegasus Actual]

 

[Wildebeest]

Meanwhile, your ancient ancestors are calling from the spirit realm, "holy fuck you found a way to make bugs taste this good you guys are living like gods. Keep winning kids."

 

[Mikado]

Ok - you know what? I'm out. If anyone needs me, I'll be in my pod.

Well... it's not really my pod per se.

But I'm happy.

 

[Sophist]

i have never tried but i am curious, maybe it doesn't taste bad. We have been eating bugs from the seas since ever, no? (Shrimps, mussels, periwinkle, ...)

 

[V1LÆM]

I know it sounds strange but honestly not the worst thing we could consume. We kill animals to eat their meat, organs and blood. Or farm them for their eggs and milk.

But a worm is where we draw the line?

Also we’ll still have more plastic in us than worm. Don’t worry.

 

[InterMusketeer]

I'm concerned. I could see companies adding this garbage to regular food to lower the cost or increase nutritional values. It's easily hidden in ingredients lists or potentially as an E number in the future. If they absolutely must approve it anyway, they should mandate large labels on the packaging to indicate bugs are in there.

Then again, there's stuff like carmine or shellac that has been in food for decades, so I guess it's not entirely new.

 

[Wildebeest]

i have never tried but i am curious, maybe it doesn't taste bad. We have been eating bugs from the seas since ever, no? (Shrimps, mussels, periwinkle, ...)

Ground up bugs have been used as red food dye for ages.

 

[Digital-Aftertaste]

Sustainable, nutrient rich and cheap to produce, but this is very much a soylent green outcome that should not be the case.

 

[Trilobit]

Feed the billionaires with mealworms and let the rest of us eat our meat in peace.

 

[calistan]

I had a bag of these chilli and lime crickets once. They're very small and quite dry, basically empty inside. Not the nicest texture really.

 

[reinking]

 

[JonSnowball]

I like bugs

 

[12Goblins]

I'm concerned. I could see companies adding this garbage to regular food to lower the cost or increase nutritional values. It's easily hidden in ingredients lists or potentially as an E number in the future. If they absolutely must approve it anyway, they should mandate large labels on the packaging to indicate bugs are in there.

Then again, there's stuff like carmine or shellac that has been in food for decades, so I guess it's not entirely new.

Same bro. I don't want healthy stuff in my garbage food

 

[delirium trigger]

 

[Alebrije]

UV treated powder.. lol!!

Meanwhile in Mexico.

Tasty street grasshoppers

 

[SmokedMeat]

Marmite. Made with real Mites!

 

[YCoCg]

At this point I'd just be happy to see how lab grown meat turns out because the elites just want us all to suffer in the name change.

 

[near]

Coincidentally someone sent me this the other day and I lowkey did not believe it.

 

[-Minsc-]

Internet does my work for me.

Edit: Up next they need to approve the Beetle Snuff.

 

[Mistake]

Coincidentally someone sent me this the other day and I lowkey did not believe it.

I forget his name, the protein bar guy, but he's been arrested twice at opposition protests in canada. Not for violence or anything, just being vocal. I'd believe his word 9/10.

Also, don't we have whey protein and various other sources? Why do we need bugs? I'll try most things once, but I just don't see the point. Sometimes I feel like life is a contest to see how much people can get away with

 

[Rentahamster]

I ate bugs in Korea and Thailand. Was neat.

 

[SlimySnake]

And i thought the chinese eating bats was backwards.

 

[ssringo]

I mean, meal is in the name...

 

[Evolved1]

probably healthier than whatever is in a hotdog. or anything from mcdonalds.

 

[Space Runaway]

Enjoy your beetle larvae.

 

[Drake]

What's the difference between a conspiracy theory and the truth? About 6 months.

 

[poppabk]

I'll continue to ignore what is in my food and how it is processed for my own sanity. Bugs are the least of your worries.

 

[Atrus]

You’ll love your daily ration of protein blocks!

 

[SmoothBrain]

You know what? I wouldn't be surprised if it is healthier to eat the bugs. Just look at how a lot of the animals are being treated, from the "farm" all the way to the store. And you probably don't have to pump your insects full of antibiotics either, just to keep them alive while they are being overfed.

You’ll love your daily ration of protein blocks!

Thinking about it, the acting on that part was super dumb. They literally ate each other before they ate the bugs. So why the shocked Pikachu face? XD

 

[YCoCg]

Surely AI will help us figure something out right EviLore

 

[EverydayBeast]

Insects are great for fishing bait just don’t want to eat them myself.

 

[Laptop1991]

Absolutely not!, whoever is pushing this can do one, i will not eat insect's for food, i'd rarther live on bread and water.

 

[Yoda]

This type of mindset is why Europe is becoming poor:

 

[poppabk]

This type of mindset is why Europe is becoming poor:

Readers added context:
Using "current prices" to make such interpretation is misleading, since the euro depreciated temporarily during that period. On a PPP basis EU GDP per capita was 67.5% of US GDP per capita in 2010, by 2021 that had actually grown to 69.8%.

 

[AJUMP23]

Never buying insect food and eating it.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Tasty street grasshoppers

One of them on the right looks like is wearing a hood and praying.

 

[poppabk]

One of them on the right looks like is wearing a hood and praying.

It's probably a little late to be praying.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Even if insects are 100% proven to be safe and nutritious, why? Because someone is poor and cant afford normal food? Ok, maybe that makes sense.

But for most people, have some pride and just eat regular food.

If scientists claimed eating shit and drinking piss were safe, would you do that too?

 

[kevboard]

Never buying insect food and eating it.

well, better look at anything red/pink in your house for E120 dye... because that's red dye made out of bugs.

Campari uses it for example, as well as many strawberry flavoured yogurts and ice creams

 

[StreetsofBeige]

well, better look at anything red/pink in your house for E120 dye... because that's red dye made out of bugs.

Campari uses it for example, as well as many strawberry flavoured yogurts and ice creams

True.

But at least those dyes are processed and sterilized where it doesnt resembles bugs at all. Big difference between that and eating a roasted cockroach.

It's similar to water. Drinking water raw from any lake, river, or city dumping stream is gross. But totally processed and filtered from a water treatment plant is totally different.

 

[I collect VHS tapes]

makes sense have u had English food? maybe this will add some flavor

 

[ScHlAuChi]

What´s so special about worms as ingredient?
Whenever you eat any sort of candies, you are eating... insect poo!
It is used to make candies glossy!

Shellac - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org