Insects in food

22.2.2023

Question for written answer  E-000581/2023
to the Commission
Rule 138
Charlie Weimers (ECR)

For the first time, the Commission has approved partially defatted powder obtained from Acheta domesticus (the house cricket)[1] as a novel food on the market.[2] The Commission has stated that four insects are now authorised: frozen, dried and powder forms of Tenebrio molitor larva[3] (the yellow mealworm); frozen, dried and powder forms of Locusta migratoria[4] (the migratory locust); and frozen, dried and powder forms of Acheta domesticus[5] (the house cricket) and Alphitobius diaperinus (the lesser mealworm)[6][7]. The European Food Safety Authority is currently carrying out safety assessments on a further eight insects.

The names of the insects must appear in the list of ingredients on pre-packed foods. The Commission has said that labelling in addition to the Latin names of the insects on the list of ingredients will be required for food products.

• 1.In addition to the inclusion of the Latin name in the small-print list of ingredients, what specific labelling requirements apply where insects are used in food products?[8][9]
• 2.How many people does the Commission think will read the lists of ingredients provided in small print on food packaging, and does the Commission take the view that a sufficient level of consumer protection is achieved without a clearly visible label on the food product featuring an image of the insect concerned?
• 3.Before this approval was given, to what extent did the Commission take into account the campaign that the World Economic Forum and other organisations are spearheading to cut meat consumption and increase the consumption of insects?[10]

Submitted: 22.2.2023

• [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2023/5/oj
• [2] https://www.brusselstimes.com/168083/european-commission-afsca-european-union-mealworms-eat-bugs-first-insect-approved-for-human-consumption-in-the-eu
• [3] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2022/169/oj
• [4] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2021/1975/oj
• [5] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2022/188/oj
• [6] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2023/58/oj
• [7] According to the Swedish National Food Agency, the drone larvae of honey bees and the black soldier fly have been approved for use in food. https://www.livsmedelsverket.se/om-oss/press/nyheter/pressmeddelanden/ett-klargorande-insekter-i-mat-far-inte-saljas-utan-konsumenternas-vetskap
• [8] https://sweden.representation.ec.europa.eu/news/vad-sager-eus-regelverk-om-insekter-i-mat-2023-02-08_sv
• [9] https://food.ec.europa.eu/safety/novel-food/authorisations/approval-insect-novel-food_sv
• [10] https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/02/how-insects-positively-impact-climate-change/