The EU Commission confirmed EFSA’s scientific opinion and authorizes the first edible insect, dried yellow mealworm, to be placed on the European market.
The authorisation will provide for the product to be sold in whole, dried form or to be used as an ingredient in other foods and is the first authorisation of its kind.
Published by the European Food Safety Authority on 13 January 2021
Extract:
Today’s batch of EFSA scientific opinions on novel food applications includes the first completed assessment of a proposed insect-derived food product. Our safety evaluations are a necessary step in the regulation of novel food, as our scientific advice supports EU and
Edible insect legislation
Traditional sources of protein are sometimes controversial for a number of reasons; therefore, in recent years insects have been touted as a potential replacement to meat products. The human consumption of crickets and other insects was last clarified in late 2015, when the European rules on novel foods were updated. In the
