ARTICLE 24 F&A Alternative Proteins Edition April 2023 insect-based end-products,” explains Noémie Beaudoin, Quality control expert at Ÿnsect. ŸNSECT’S EXPERTISE OPTIMIZES PRODUCT SAFETY AND QUALITY The insect farming facilities are under heavy scrutiny at Ÿnsect, with rigorous quality controls. Indeed, pursuant to the European legislation, farmed insects fall under the farmed animals3 category, like any other animal. As such, they are subject to the majority of the standards that apply to livestock farming. Everything that comes in and out of the factories goes through robust internal and external controls, including raw materials and finished products. In line with the analyses carried out on the end-product, Ÿnsect strictly monitors the rearing process, thus ensuring compliance with the agri-food legislation and guaranteeing the highest of standards. Proactive on setting an example and breeding mealworms with the most relevant system possible, Ÿnsect has made innovative improvements to the breeding, monitoring and safety of insects. The safety and quality of the resulting insect-based product is therefore also enhanced. An on-site team of entomologists, agri-food and quality experts, and an external veterinarian build inhouse knowledge to guarantee insect health, biosecurity and end-product requirements. Workers receive accurate training and take part in ongoing workshops to ensure adhesion and compliance to biosecurity principles and understanding of health measures. THE NEXT GENERATION OF MEALWORM FARMING With safety in mind, the Ÿnsect facilities were built on this expertise to prevent insect and product contamination and to maximize security. Dry, compartmentalized, controlled, and stackable nurseries help maintain consistent, hygienic, disease-free, internal conditions so that production is largely unaffected by external factors. System consistency is notably increased through operational redundancy. Additionally, extra attention is paid to the diet of the mealworms. Strict restrictions4 apply as to what the mealworms can be fed, to guarantee the safety of the whole feed and food chains and avoid the presence of undesirable substances. Regular analyses of the feeding substrate are notably performed to verify microbiological quality and the absence of contaminants. This expertise has helped tailor precisely to the mealworms’ needs, improving the quality, safety and consistency of the resulting end-products. Consumption risk is similar to other farmed animal fed with plant-based substrates, but the precise control over the mealworms’ diet ensures safe food and means that the final end-product is consistent in quality over time.
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