- The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) deems
mealworms safe for human consumption -
PARIS, Jan. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Getting the
provisional green light from the EFSA[1] is a major step
forward for the industry. It should pave the way for future
approvals, particularly on human consumption of defatted insect
protein, which represents the largest human food market segment in
terms of value and volumes, especially in sports and health
nutrition.
- Ÿnsect has identified these markets as the most promising with
YnMeal, one of its defatted ingredients.
- Ÿnsect has submitted its Novel Food application (without
requesting information protection for five years, so that its data
can be used by all within the European sector) demonstrating an
allergen profile much lower than using the whole insect.
- Ÿnsect will be filing a GRAS request in the USA in the coming months to serve the world's
largest market for fitness and sports nutrition.
- Ÿnsect has already signed a commercial contract within these
markets, demonstrating its leading position in the industry.
On January 13, 2021, the European
Food Safety Authority (EFSA) announced a favourable safety
assessment of mealworms for human food following the work done by a
French IPIFF[2] Food Task Force and its members. The
EFSA has concluded that this product is safe for human consumption,
under the procedures required by the European Union regarding new
food legislation (EU Regulation 2015/2283). This favourable
assessment will have to be confirmed by the European Commission's
Health Directorate General, which will give the final authorisation
for market approval in the European Union.
The mealworm is the first insect to receive a positive safety
evaluation for human consumption in the world. This is a
recognition that mealworm ingredients are premium products as
they are uniquely "food grade" compared to other insects used only
in animal feed.
"This breakthrough is a major achievement that rewards the
work that has been done for years by the entire European insect
industry gathered under the IPIFF umbrella. We hope that this
positive assessment will be the first of many" explains
Antoine Hubert, CEO of Ÿnsect.
About Ÿnsect
Ÿnsect is the world leader in natural insect protein and
fertilizer production. Founded in 2011 in Paris, the Next40
company transforms insects into premium ingredients for pets, fish
and plants. From its state of the art farms, Ÿnsect uses pioneering
proprietary technology protected by 260 patents in the world to
produce Molitor mealworm in vertical
farms.www.ynsect.com
[1] The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is
the agency of the European Union providing independent scientific
advice on existing and emerging risks associated with the food
chain, to help protect consumers, animals and the environment from
food-related risks.
[2] International Plaftorm of Insects for Food
and Feed (IPIFF), the European umbrella organisation representing
stakeholders active in the production of insects for food and
feed
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SOURCE Ÿnsect