LEuropean Union has just authorized the placing on the market of Acheta domesticus, i.e. the domestic cricket, in partially defatted powder as a new food. Here’s everything we know about cricket flour.
According to theFood Safety Authority cricket flour “meets the conditions for placing on the market”
The Commission Implementing Regulation EU 2023/5 of 3 January 2023 was published on Community Official Gazette. And with this publication the opening of the European Union is confirmed. Even if in the continent – and in particular in our country – the consumption of insects in the daily diet is seen as something absurd and disgusting, in many other parts of the world it is simple normality.
L’Food Safety Authority she expressed herself, consulted by the EU Commission. «The partially degreased powder of Acheta domesticus (house cricket) is safe under the proposed conditions and levels of use».
And it reads. «This scientific opinion therefore presents sufficient grounds to establish that the partially defatted powder of Acheta domesticuswhen used in multigrain breads and rolls, crackers and bread sticks, granola bars, dry bakery premixes, cookies, filled and unfilled pasta dry products, sauces, processed products potato-based, legume and vegetable dishes, pizza, pasta products, whey powder, meat substitute products, soups and soup concentrates or powders, snacks made from cornmeal, in beer-like beverages, chocolate products, nuts and oilseeds, non-chip snack foods and meat preparations, intended for the general population, meets the conditions for placing on the market».
Cricket. Credit: Getty Images
Only a company will be able to place this food on the EU market
How will we be able to recognize if cricket flour is present in a product? It will read “partially defatted powder of Acheta domesticus (house cricket)”. And, apparently, this label will indicate that this ingredient could cause allergic reactions in consumers with known allergies to shellfish and crustacean products, shellfish and shellfish products, and house dust mites.
For five years starting January 24, 2023 (date of entry into force of the EU regulation), it will just be the company Cricket One Co. Ltd to be able to place this food on the EU market‘unless a subsequent applicant obtains an authorization for that novel food without reference to scientific data protected under Article 3 or with the consent of Cricket One Co. Ltd’.
Brothers of Italy: «Measure bordering on insanity»
The approval of cricket flour did not find the support of the MEPs of the League who denounced: «Other than the protection of excellence, Made in Italy and the Mediterranean diet: for Brussels the priorities are insects on the plate, synthetic food and Nutriscore. But does it seem normal to you?». And they post on Twitter an image with an inscription that leaves no room for misunderstandings: «Eat them yourself».
They are also echoed by Maria Cristina Caretta, deputy of Brothers of Italy and vice-president of the Agriculture commission in Montecitorio. He told ANSA. «The introduction of cricket powder as a food in the EU, decided by the European Commission, it is part of the plan to destroy our food traditionsthe excellence of the Mediterranean diet and Made in Italy».
It’s still. «It is disheartening to learn that in the face of economic-energy, diplomatic and political crises, Europe is able to make itself alive only with measures bordering on madness, such as the regulation of insects as food. For us the future ofnutrition is another, based on the territory, tradition and quality. And we will certainly fight to defend it.
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