Mealworms soon to be available for human consumption in EU

Insects are one step closer to being available as snacks or food ingredients in Europe. The European Commission’s Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed has approved a draft legal act that, once adopted by the Commission, would permit dried yellow mealworm (the larvae of the beetle Tenebrio molitor) to be sold in the European Union for consumption by people. The yellow mealworm will be the first insect to be approved under the Novel Food Regulation. 11 further applications for edible insects are waiting to be evaluated by the European Food Safety Authority.