The European Commission authorised further insects as novel food in January 2023:
- Acheta domesticus (house cricket) partially defatted powder and
- frozen, paste, dried and powder forms of Alphitobius diaperinus larvae (lesser mealworm).
In both cases only the applicant is authorised to place on the market within the Union the novel food, for a period of 5 years from the date of entry into force of this Regulation, unless a subsequent applicant obtains an authorisation for that novel food without reference to the scientific data protected pursuant to Article 3 or with the agreement of the applicant.
The labelling of both foodstuffs shall bear a statement in close proximity to the list of ingredients that these ingredients may cause allergic reactions to consumers with known allergies to crustaceans and molluscs (house cricket) / crustaceans only (lesser mealworm) and products thereof, as well as to dust mites.
The labelling of food supplements containing larvae of the lesser mealworm furthermore shall bear a statement that those food supplements should not be consumed by persons under 18 years of age.
Further details, such as specified food categories, maximum levels and specifications, can be found in the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/5 (house cricket) and in the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/58 (lesser mealworm) respectively.
