Grain mold beetle and house cricket in many foods in the future
Many foods may contain small pests in the future, as the European Union has ruled that grain mold beetles and house crickets are considered ingredients. In this article, you’ll learn more about the new rule and what it means for consumers.
Mold beetle and house cricket in food – what does it mean?
Grain mold beetle and house cricket in many foods in the future
Until now, cereal mold beetles and house crickets have only been found in foods such as chocolate, cookies, and pastries. But in the future, the insects could also be increasingly present in other foods, such as flour, rice or pasta. This is the result of a study by the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT.
Scientists have studied in which foods the insects are most abundant. They found that the animals are mainly found in cereal products. “Until now, it was assumed that mold beetles and house crickets were only found as a ‘by-product’ in the production of chocolate, cookies or pastries,” explains Dr. Stephan Schüßler from UMSICHT. “Through our research, we discovered that the animals are also found in other foods.”
The finding has consequences for food approval: because up to now, cereal mold beetle and house cricket were considered “undesirable substances” and were therefore only allowed to be present in small quantities. However, according to the prudence study, there could be an officially permitted number of insects per kilogram of food in the future.
How do insects get into food?
Insects in food enter the food chain in a variety of ways. Cereal mold beetle and house cricket, for example, will enter the food through the flour. The beetles lay their eggs near grain fields, where the larvae hatch and feed on the stalks. When the grain is milled, the beetles and larvae enter the food with the flour.
What foods will be affected?
What foods will be affected?
Grain mold beetle and house cricket in the future in many foods: That’s according to a new study by the University of Bonn. The researchers found that the two insect pests have become more prevalent in cereal products such as flour and muesli in recent years. The beetles feed on molds that grow on the grains. As a result, they can proliferate and appear in large quantities in food.
Is it harmful to health?
The discovery of mold and house crickets in food is a major consumer health concern. The fungi can cause allergies, vomiting and diarrhea, while house crickets produce carcinogens.
