According to an assessment by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), there is a low risk to the public from edible insects sold in the UK.
The risk assessment examined allergen, microbial and heavy metal contamination of seven edible insect products currently available on the UK market.
These products are Small Mealworm, House Cricket, Yellow Mealworm, Banded Cricket, Desert Locust, Locust, and Black Soldier Fly. A full exposure assessment was not carried out due to a lack of consumption data on edible insects in the UK.
The frequency of allergic reactions to edible insects is estimated to be very low as long as products are properly labelled. The severity of the condition reported by consumers is generally low, being a mild condition that is usually short-lived.
However, in some people with strong allergic reactions to shellfish, especially crustaceans, and mites, the severity of the disease can be high and cause anaphylactic shock. Consumers with shellfish allergies are expected to minimize their exposure to such foods where labeled.
A 2021 publication by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) provided an overview of various food safety issues that could be associated with edible insects.
Low risk of existing controls
The frequency of exposure to harmful microorganisms or heavy metals has been predicted by the FSA to be very low.
The severity of the disease from edible insects contaminated with microorganisms or heavy metals is low. However, exposure to salmonella and other pathogens can range from asymptomatic to fatal in severe cases.
There is no data on the microbial contamination of edible insect products in the UK as they are only available for sale for a limited time.
Evidence from risk profiles from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the FSA showed that heavy metals, particularly cadmium and arsenic, are very likely to accumulate in edible insects when fed contaminated substrates. The accumulation potential is also species-dependent.
The estimated risk levels assume that appropriate control measures to reduce microbial and chemical contaminants have been applied, such as: B. heat treatment or labeling.
Toxic chemicals can accumulate in edible insects from the substrate they feed on or through direct contact with pollutants during rearing. These chemicals can also result from post-harvest processing.
Physical hazards, such as particularly hard or large body parts of the insect, can be managed by removing these parts.
Although not covered in the report, the FSA said it was important to include consumer acceptance, animal welfare and trade in broader work on regulating edible insects and the implications for food safety.
legislative plans
The plans outlined by the FSA will go ahead after a public comment period.
A proposed change will allow edible insects to remain on the market in England, Scotland and Wales, where they are the subject of a novel food application made to authorities in the UK before December 31, 2023. If Parliament agrees, legislative changes will come in by December 31, 2022.
They may be sold until ministers decide whether to allow them or until the process is otherwise completed, e.g. B. until the applicant withdraws them. Applications can take up to 17 months to process.
A total of 315 replies were received during the comment period. These came from seven food companies and two organizations representing the edible insects and alternative proteins industry, two local authorities, two other groups and 51 individuals or independent companies. These included the International Platform of Insects for Food and Feed (IPIFF) and Allergy UK.
Other companies, organizations and members of the public have raised safety concerns including toxicity, bacterial and parasitic contamination, potential allergen risks and clear labeling for consumer choice. These are factors that are taken into account as part of the process to consider applications for novel food authorisations, the FSA said.
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