On 16 December 2024, EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) published a favourable opinion on the safety of house crickets – frozen, dried and powdered – for human consumption, in view of their placing on the market as ‘novel food’ under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. (1)
The use of these insects as food and food ingredients has already been authorised in the EU (2,3,4). However, this case is different because the applicants, for the first time, did not request an exclusivity on the authorisation. (5) All operators will therefore be able to benefit from it. The state of the art follows.
1) Protix, the first authorization for house crickets as novel food in the EU
The first authorization to put house crickets on the market (Acheta domesticus frozen, dried and powdered as novel foods, pursuant to Novel Food Regulation (EU) 2015/2283, was issued by the Commission on 10 February 2022 (3,6).
The application, it should be noted, was submitted on 17 December 2018 and received EFSA’s favourable opinion on 18 August 2021. (7) The definition of the procedure therefore required 38 months (1.151 days, 3,15 years).
The applicant Fair Insects BV – a Dutch company of the Protix group (owned by European Investment Bank and Tyson Foods, among others), which breeds black soldier flies for animal feed (8,9), has received an exclusive authorization.
1.1) Exclusive authorization
The exclusive authorization for 5 years – which the operator can license for use, like other industrial property rights, as seen (5) – was granted following the request by Protix to protect some scientific data presented in support of the application. Specifically:
– detailed description of the production process
– the results of the immediate analysis
– analytical data on contaminants
– results of stability studies
– analytical data on microbiological parameters
– information on sales of the new food by the company
– results of the solubility test of the novel food for the genotoxicity study; results of the protein digestibility studies; cytotoxicity/cellular toxicity study. (6)
1.2) Conditions of use in food
The use of Acheta Domesticus has been authorised for Protix for use in foods and within the limits indicated below, respectively, for frozen and dried or powdered form:
– protein foods other than meat substitutes, 40 and 20 g per 100 g of product
– bread and rolls, 30 and 10 g
– baked goods, cereal bars and stuffed pasta, 30 and 15 g
– biscuits, 30 and 8 g
– dry pasta, 3 and 1 g
– soups, even concentrated or powdered, 20 and 5 g
– processed potato products, legume and vegetable dishes, pasta or pizza-based foods, 15 and 5 g
– corn flour based snacks, 40 and 20 g
– beer-type beverages, alcoholic beverage mixes, 1 g
– nuts, oil seeds and chickpeas, 40 and 25 g
– sauces, 30 and 10 g
– meat products, 40 and 16 g
– meat substitutes, 80 and 50 g
– chocolate, 30 and 10 g
– frozen fermented milk products, 15 and 5 g. (6)
1.3) Indication of house crickets on food labels
The label of foods containing Protix-approved house crickets must always state:
– the legal sales name ‘Domestic Acheta ((frozen house cricket)’ o ‘Acheta domesticus (house cricket) dried/powdered’. As well as the wording, next to the name in the list of ingredients
– a warning of the type ‘This ingredient may cause allergic reactions in consumers with known allergies to crustaceans and crustacean products, molluscs and mollusc products and dust mites‘. (6)
2) Cricket One, second authorization with exclusivity
The second authorization of house crickets (Acheta domesticus) as a novel food, in the form of a partially defatted powder, was released on 3 January 2023 to Cricket One Co Ltd. (Vietnam). A full 41 months (1259 days, 3,45 years) after the relevant application, was submitted on 24 July 2019 (10,11).
Cricket One in turn requested and obtained an exclusive authorization for 5 years, justified by the protection of the following scientific studies and data:
– ‘detailed description of the production process, immediate analysis results, analytical data on contaminants, results of stability studies, analytical data on microbiological criteria, results of protein digestibility studies‘. (10)
2.1) Permitted food uses
Partially defatted house cricket powder may be placed by Cricket One on the EU market in commonly used foods and within the following quantitative limits:
– multigrain bread and rolls, crackers and breadsticks, 2 g/100 g
– cereal bars, 3g
– dry premixes for bakery products, 3 g
– biscuits, 1,5 g
– dry products based on stuffed and non-stuffed pasta, 3 g and 0,25 g respectively
– sauces, processed potato products, legume and vegetable dishes, pizza, pasta products, 1 g
– whey powder, 3 g
– meat substitutes, 5 g
– soups, even concentrated or powdered, 1 g
– corn flour snack, 4 g
– beer-type beverages, 0,1 g
– chocolate products, 2 g
– nuts and oil seeds, 2 g
– snacks other than crisps, 5 g
– meat preparations, 2 g. (10)
2.2) Labeling
The labeling of products containing ‘partially degreased powder of Acheta domesticus (domestic cricket)’ must report this legal name in the list of ingredients.
A warning of unsuitability for consumption by consumers allergic to crustaceans, shellfish and their derivatives, and dust mites should always appear next to the ingredient list. (10)
3) BiiF. The first request, without exclusivity
BiiF – Belgian Insect Industry Federation (12) – was the first among all operators to request the novel food authorisation for house crickets, back on 30 April 2018.
The exclusivity was not requested, since the Belgian Federation of Insect Breeders aims to promote the collective development of this agri-food sector in the Old Continent.
3.1) Raising house crickets, here’s why
The summary of the BiiF application for the authorization of domestic grills as novel food helps to understand the meaning of these productions. (13) For consumers and thus for farmers and peasants, who can thus supplement their meager incomes, (14) dedicating a little covered space to this activity:
– the house cricket, especially in its dried form, is a food with high nutritional value. It contains high quantities of essential amino acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids (including linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid, a precursor of Omega 3), vitamins B2, B12, C and E
– the production system guarantees a high level of product safety, thanks to compliance with self-control criteria (good hygiene practices, HACCP), traceability, labelling and consumer information;
– the breeding is carried out without using pesticides, antibiotics, solvents or growth hormones. Any harmful insects are fought with UV lamps, pheromone traps or biological control (e.g. parasitic wasps); (1)
– chemical, microbiological and heavy metal analyses demonstrate the compliance of this insect species with FAO criteria, EU regulations, FASFC (Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain) guidelines.
3.2) Generous abundance
BiiF’s request for authorization – under the Novel Food Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 (15) – assumed in principle the food use of house crickets (Acheta domesticus, AD) with generous abundance:
– house crickets (heat treated) whole packaged, frozen, dried, in powder or fresh cream, 100% AD
– ready-to-eat snacks, <100%
– baked goods, <80% dried crickets
– protein products (excluding milk analogues), salads and sandwich creams, sweets, spreads with nuts, fresh AD <70%
– creams, dried AD <40%.
3.3) Consumption recommendations
Traditional consumption of house crickets with no reported negative impact on consumer health supports the absence of harmful effects on human health.
The supply of proteins with high biological value is significant. 14,3-15,2 g/100 g in frozen cricket, 44,4-46,4 in dried cricket, 48,6-49 in its powder.
The recommendation not to exceed a consumption of 54 g of A. domesticus dried was in any case proposed by BiiF to respect the chitin intake, 5 g/day, indicated by EFSA as safe.
3.4) EFSA, favourable opinion on BiiF application
EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) has commented on BiiF’s application, better late than never, 80 months (6,63 years, 2.422 days) after its submission. To conclude that:
– under the proposed conditions of use, the consumption of the novel food is nutritionally advantageous;
– no safety concerns arise from the toxicological information on A. domesticus;
– the novel food is therefore safe in the uses and levels of use revised (see next paragraph).
Please note: should only be dedicated to allergens that may be present in the feed and could be transferred into the novel food, observe the EFSA experts. In addition to the known sensitivity of those allergic to crustaceans, molluscs and mites. (1)
3.5) Abundance for all
The conditions of use evaluated by EFSA – even if scaled down, by the same BiiF, compared to the initial enthusiasm (see above, paragraph 3.2) – remain generous. The following are the quantitative thresholds of AD, in the frozen or dried and powdered forms respectively, for 100 g of product:
– crackers and breadsticks, finger food, 9,6 and 4,8 g
– cereal bars, plain and mix ed, 17,8 and 8,9 g
– dark chocolate, chocolate spread, chocolate-covered sweets, pralines, 2 and 1 g
– paella, nasi goreng, risotto, rice and vegetable dishes (also with meat), Caesar and Greek salads, bean salad, 10 and 5 g.
4) Alia Insect Farm, the fourth application for authorization
A fourth novel food authorization request with five-year exclusivity has been submitted by an Italian micro-agricultural company, Alia Insect Farm, with the help of our team at FARE (Food and Agriculture Requirements), May 30, 2023 (16,17).
The innovation proposed by Alia Insect Farm consists of the development of an atomized flour from domestic crickets, to be made via spray-drying process, also in a de-chitinized version. In order to achieve the highest protein digestibility index (PDCAAS, Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score = 1, in the range 0-1), equal to that of eggs, and an appreciable antioxidant action. (16)
The procedure is taking longer than expected, also in this case. Due to the numerous requests for data integration and analysis, by EFSA, which have required further investments and burdens on the micro-enterprise and a consequent suspension of the evaluation procedure. (17)
4.1) Atomized cricket powder, intended uses
The atomized cricket powder– which the Commission does not allow to be designated as ‘flour’ (in spite of the existence of other flours of animal origin, also for human consumption, i.e. fish meal. See footnote 18) – is proposed for the uses and under the conditions (AD g/100 g) that follow:
– spoon desserts and ice creams, 10 g
– crackers and breadsticks, 10 g
– meat substitutes, 40 g
– snacks other than crisps and similar, 20 g
– bread and rolls with special ingredients, 5 g
– gluten-free bread, 8 g
– biscuits and sweets, 5 g
– croissant, 4 g
– mixed cereal bars, 10 g
– premixes (dry) for baked goods, 15 g
– extruded snacks such as ‘puffs’ or ‘curls’ (puffs, curls), 15 g
– fresh and dry pasta, 8 and 10 g respectively
– gluten-free pasta, 10 g
– gnocchi, 5 g
– mixed processed cereal products, 4 g
– potato croquettes, 5 g
– pralines, 1 g
– jelly sweets, 1 g
– pizza and similar products, even with cheese, 10 g
– pesto-type dressing, 8 g
– mayonnaise sauce, 4 g
– fresh stuffed egg pasta, 16 g. (17)
5) Organic house crickets
The production of house crickets and products derived from them can also be carried out using organic methods. And should therefore come under the production and control regime established in Organic Regulation (EU) 2018/848, which in fact defines ‘animal production’ as ‘the production of domestic or domesticated terrestrial animals, including insects‘ (19,20).
The European Commission, however, has not yet defined standards for organic insect farming practices. These:
– should include feeding insects with organic raw materials. And include, among other things, specific provisions on animal welfare of individual species and LCA (Life-Cycle Assessment); (21)
– they are essential for the production of organic insects for food use, but also for producing organic materials for feed (of particular interest in aquaculture, poultry farming and pet food);
– they are also essential for using the frass of organic insects, a precious fertilizer that derives from their breeding, in organic farming (22). And thus increase the profitability and value of production, in a logic of circular economy (23, 24).
6) Novel Foods Regulation and insects, short notes
The application of the Novel Foods Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 remains problematic in the edible insect supply chain, as well as in the botanicals, hemp (CBD) and probiotics sectors (25, 26, 27):
– the level of demonstration of the safety of novel foods, for the general population, moreover, far exceeds the criteria followed by the analysis and risk management of pesticides and other contaminants that also have an impact on vulnerable population groups (i.e. glyphosate, mycotoxins, heavy metals, MOAH, microplastics); (28-33)
– compiling applications for the authorization of novel foods is particularly burdensome and problematic, especially for SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises). Despite, and perhaps even because of, the various updates of the relevant EFSA guidelines;
– the systematic delays in the publication of EFSA scientific opinions and even more in the release of authorizations by the European Commission cause unsustainable delays in the ‘time to market’ of new products. With consequent paralysis of private investments in research and development.
7) Provisional conclusions
Domestic Achata has a conversion index of organic waste into proteins that is not comparable to that – extraordinary, as we have seen (9) – of the black soldier fly. Their production, like that of other insects and various alternative protein sources (i.e. microalgae) can be energy-intensive, especially in cold climates. And therefore requires specific measures, such as:
– the positioning of farms near other production plants, to absorb thermal energy through heat exchangers;
– the use of indirect or hybrid solar drying, already tested with appreciable results for microalgae in the EU research project ProFuture. (34)
House crickets have already been selected – among the 24 edible insect species of potential interest for European populations, under the EU research project NovRBA (Novel Foods as red meat replacers – an insight using Risk-Benefit Assessment methods) – for the wider development potential on the market. (35) Perhaps also thanks to their greater acceptance (36,37,38).
‘European protein strategy‘, the valuable resolution of the European Parliament (2023), suggested among other things a review of the Novel Foods Regulation – to simplify procedures and shorten times, without sacrificing food safety – and adequate support for research projects, SMEs, innovative startups and research institutions (39,40).
Dario Dongo
Credit cover: Logo of the Cricket Food research consortium (Wiise et al. 2022), by Renato Floris, Matite Blu
Footnotes:
A)Footnotes to Chapter 1
(1) EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA). (2024). Safety of frozen, dried and powder forms of house crickets (Acheta domesticus) as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. EFSA Journal / Volume 22, Issue 12 / e9101.
https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.9101
(2) Dario Dongo. Insects on the table, Novel Food approvals in EU. The state of the art. FT (Food Times). February 13, 2022
(3) See paragraph 1 of the previous article by Dario Dongo, Andrea Adelmo Della Penna. Insects as novel foods, state of the art in the European Union and UK. FT (Food Times). August 18, 2022
(4) See paragraph 2.1 of the previous article by Dario Dongo, Andrea Adelmo Della Penna. Novel food. Green light in EU for protein from mushrooms, rice and peas, insects, milk and new sugars. FT (Food Times). January 14, 2023
(5) Dario Dongo. ‘Novel food’ with exclusivity and market distortions. FT (Food Times). October 29, 2023
(6) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/188 of 10 February 2022 authorizing the placing on the market of frozen, dried and powder forms of Acheta domesticus as a novel food under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 https://tinyurl.com/nb3b7tat
B) Footnotes to Chapter 2
(7) Dario Dongo, Andrea Adelmo Della Penna. Crickets on the table, green light from EFSA. FT (Food Times). August 18, 2021
(8) Protix https://protix.com
(9) Dario Dongo, Andrea Adelmo Della Penna. Black soldier fly larvae, proteins and oils from organic waste. FT (Food Times). April 11, 2022
(10) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/5 of 3 January 2023 authorizing the placing on the market of Acheta domesticus (house cricket) partially defatted powder as a novel food and amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 https://tinyurl.com/2s3rp5c6
C) Footnotes to Chapter 3
(11) Dario Dongo. Domestic crickets and novel foods, a bit of clarity. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 17.1.23
(12) BiiF (Belgian insects industry Federation) https://biif.org
(13) European Commission. Novel foods applications, 2018. Acheta domesticus. Summary of the dossier https://tinyurl.com/tyjuna4s
(14) See paragraph 2 (Earth) in the previous article by Dario Dongo. Peace, Land and Dignity. Our movement in the 2024 European elections. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 14.3.24
(15) The Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC), in Belgium, had already published a list of insects for food use, on 11.5.14, in the period of the first Novel Food Regulation (EC) 258/97. See paragraph ‘Bugs on the table in the EU, the most gluttonous countries’ in the previous article by Dario Dongo. Insects at the table in the EU. FT (Food Times). February 9, 2018
D) Footnotes to Chapter 4
(16) Dario Dongo, Andrea Adelmo Della Penna. Atomized powder of crickets. Protein digestibility and antioxidant action. Italian study. FT (Food Times). February 3, 2023
(17) Novel Food Authorization EFSA-Q-2023-00374. Status: Ongoing Risk Assessment. Clockstop expected until: 30.4.2025. EFSA Open https://tinyurl.com/y4h39h98
(18) Dario Dongo. Fishmeal, a huge untapped potential. FT (Food Times). December 9, 2022
E) Footnotes to Chapter 5
(19) Donato Ferrucci, Dario Dongo. Production and labeling of organic products, starting reg. EU 2018/848. THE ABC’S. FT (Food Times). February 2, 2022
(20) See Article 3.1.27 of Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on organic production and labeling of organic products. Consolidated text 1.12.24 https://tinyurl.com/3a66ymdv
(21) Eurogroup for Animals. High standards for a forward-looking organic certification of industrial insect production. Position Paper. November 24, 2024 https://tinyurl.com/bdffu7z6
(22) Dario Dongo, Andrea Adelmo Della Penna. Insects and frass, circular economy in agri-food systems. FT (Food Times). August 7, 2023
(23) Insect farming and the use of their by-products as fertilizers could increase their productivity. See Jacopo Govi. Organic farming, fertilizers allowed in the EU. FT (Food Times). October 11, 2024
(24) The integration of the circular economy – which is already typical of organic farming – with the training of insects and the use of their frass would also increase the profitability of the organic system which has already proven to be superior to conventional farming methods. See Dario Dongo. Organic farming. Resilience and food security, fair remuneration. The Swedish study. FT (Food Times). March 3, 2021
F) Footnotes to Chapter 6
(25) Dario Dongo. Health claims on botanicals, the Court of Justice provides clarity. FT (Food Times). October 13, 2020
(26) Dario Dongo, Andrea Adelmo Della Penna. CBD as Novel Food, yellow light from EFSA. FT (Food Times). July 7, 2022
(27) Dario Dongo. Probiotics, 18 years of battles in the European Union. FT (Food Times). January 15, 2025
(28) Dario Dongo. Glyphosate and neurotoxicity, doubts and questions from a toxicologist. FT (Food Times). November 3, 2023
(29) Marta Strinati. Mycotoxins, interview with Carlo Brera, ISS expert. FT (Food Times). May 31, 2019
(30) Dario Dongo. Mycotoxins, the emerging risks. FT (Food Times). November 20, 2024
(31) See chapter 6 of the previous article by Dario Dongo. Tuna, mercury and Omega-3. Risks/benefits. FT (Food Times). January 5, 2025
(32) Marta Strinati. Food contamination with MOAH mineral oils, petition. FT (Food Times). January 10, 2025
G) Footnotes to Chapter 7
(33) Dario Dongo, Andrea Adelmo Della Penna. Special – microplastics in the human body, scientific review. FT (Food Times). January 18, 2025
(34) Dario Dongo, Andrea Adelmo Della Penna. ProFuture, solar drying for sustainable microalgae. FT (Food Times). August 13, 2022
(35) Andrea Adelmo Della Penna. Replace red meat with house crickets? The NovRBA project. FT (Food Times). May 25, 2022
(36) Hartmann C, Shi J, Giusto A, Siegrist M. The psychology of eating insects: a cross-cultural comparison between Germany and China. Food Qual Prefer. (2015) 44:148–56. doi: 10.1016/j.foodqual.2015.04.013
(37) A comprehensive analysis is offered by the study by Kröger Tieneke, Dupont Jacqueline, Büsing Lucy, Fiebelkorn Florian (2022). Acceptance of Insect-Based Food Products in Western Societies: A Systematic Review. Frontiers in Nutrition, Vol 8. Doi: 10.3389/fnut.2021.759885
(38) Carlotta Totaro Fila, Dario Dongo. Food with insects, the largest survey ever conducted in Italy. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 30.1.19
(39) European Protein Strategy, the new resolution. FT (Food Times). October 27, 2023
(40) Dario Dongo, Andrea Adelmo Della Penna. Horizon4Proteins. Protein research compared with EU policies and rules. FT (Food Times). May 21, 2023
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
