Cricket-based food ingredient safe

At the request of the European Commission, EFSA was asked to advice on the safety of frozen and dried formulations of house crickets (Acheta domesticus) as a Novel Food. The panel concluded that the Novel Food is safe in the proposed uses and use levels. Risks are only anticipated for people with an allergy to crustaceans, mites and molluscs.

The use of the Novel food is proposed in three formulations: frozen, dried and ground. The main components of the product are protein, fat and fibre (chitin). There are no safety concerns regarding the stability of the Novel Food if it meets the proposed specification limits throughout the shelf life. The flour of the crickets has a high protein content.

The applicant has proposed to use the product in the form of a snack, and as a food ingredient in a number of foods.

Efsa.europa.eu