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Insects just moved a step closer to European dinner plates.
Dried yellow mealworm, the larval form of the mealworm beetle, is safe for human consumption in both its whole form and as a powder additive, the European Union’s food watchdog said Wednesday, ruling on an application by French insect farmer EAP Group SAS - Micronutris, now known as Agronutris.
The European Food Safety Authority’s opinion is a first step before officials consider whether to approve sales of snacks, protein bars, cookies and other foods containing the bugs as ingredients.
The decision is a jolt for the insect-farming business, which researcher Arcluster predicts will grow tenfold to exceed $4.1 billion globally by 2025. Insects are emerging as a more sustainable source of protein thanks to their lower environmental impact and high nutritional value, attracting record venture-capital financing and attention from giants such as Cargill Inc. and Nestle SA.
“It’s a clear and important milestone for the whole sector,” said Antoine Hubert, co-founder of France’s Ynsect SAS, which rears mealworms and plans to expand into sports nutrition. “There will be a snowball effect. It will increase the potential to invest in further capacity and attract further funding to support the growth.”
www.bloomberg.com
Dried yellow mealworm, the larval form of the mealworm beetle, is safe for human consumption in both its whole form and as a powder additive, the European Union’s food watchdog said Wednesday, ruling on an application by French insect farmer EAP Group SAS - Micronutris, now known as Agronutris.
The European Food Safety Authority’s opinion is a first step before officials consider whether to approve sales of snacks, protein bars, cookies and other foods containing the bugs as ingredients.
The decision is a jolt for the insect-farming business, which researcher Arcluster predicts will grow tenfold to exceed $4.1 billion globally by 2025. Insects are emerging as a more sustainable source of protein thanks to their lower environmental impact and high nutritional value, attracting record venture-capital financing and attention from giants such as Cargill Inc. and Nestle SA.
“It’s a clear and important milestone for the whole sector,” said Antoine Hubert, co-founder of France’s Ynsect SAS, which rears mealworms and plans to expand into sports nutrition. “There will be a snowball effect. It will increase the potential to invest in further capacity and attract further funding to support the growth.”
Bugs Head for European Menus After Mealworms Get Green Light
Insects just moved a step closer to European dinner plates.
www.bloomberg.com
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