The European Commission has authorised the placing on the market of migratory locust (Locusta migratoria), the second insect as a human food.
Migratory locust was added to the European Union’s (EU) list of approved food on Nov. 12th as part of the bloc’s push towards more sustainable farming and diets.
It was the second time the EU gave the green light an insect was safe for humans to eat after the dried yellow mealworm larvae of beetle tenebrio molitor was authorised in June. A third, the house cricket, could follow soon.
The European Commission, which authorised the migratory locusts as a human food, said the locusts could be marketed as a snack or as a food ingredient either in dried or frozen form with wings and legs removed or as powder.
The EU authorization will come into force on December 5th, 2021.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) said adults of insect species locusta migratoria were high in protein with no safety concerns, though they might lead to reactions in people allergic to crustaceans, mites and molluscs.
The review followed an application in 2018 from Netherlands-based Fair Insects BV, professional breeders of mealworm, crickets and locusts owned by Dutch firm Protix. The latter’s insect-based products are principally used as pet and chicken feed.
