While commonly consumed in many parts of the world, insects have long been off the menu in Europe…but they could soon be creeping their way onto our plates! With Europe’s focus shifting towards a more sustainable agri-food sector, entomophagy, the practice of eating insects, is now gaining serious interest… But are Europeans ready for an insect-based diet?

EPRS STOA podcast - What if insects were on the menu in Europe?

Novel food - Insects are used as a main ingredient of a balanced meal.

Novel food - Insects used as ingredient of a balanced meal and as an alternative protein source

Novel food - Insects : new protein source alternative

Placing on the market of insects and insect-based foods intended for human consumption. Little Food, company located in Belgium produces crickets.  Regulation (EC) no 258/97 provides that foods or food ingredients which have not been used for human consumption to a significant degree within the European Union before 15 may 1997 are novel foods, or novel food ingredients.

Insects, while commonly consumed elsewhere in the world, have long been off the menu in Europe, but they could soon be creeping their way onto our plates. Entomophagy, the practice of eating insects, is now gaining serious interest. Is it set to take Europe by swarm? Insects are the most diverse group of organisms on the planet and over 1 000 different species are regularly eaten in Africa, Asia, and Central and South America. Nutritionally dense and versatile, insects are already available for human consumption in some EU Member States, either sold whole or in processed products. With the EU committed to transitioning to a more sustainable and resilient food system as part of the European Green Deal and in light of the Covid‑19 pandemic, insects could offer a greener alternative component of future animal protein production. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - What if insects were on the menu in Europe?

To raksturo kā vienu no briesmīgākajiem izmiršanas posmiem uz Zemes pēc dinozauru izzušanas. Apputeksnētājkukaiņu masveida izmiršana iezvanījusi trauksmes zvanu zinātnes aprindās. Parlaments vēlas, lai ES darītu vairāk to aizsardzībai.

Parlaments aicina ES darīt vairāk apputeksnētājkukaiņu labā

This infoclip illustrates : Little Food is a Brussels-based start-up farm producing crickets for human consumption. Tom Algae is a producer of algae based in Nevele (Belgium) and currently focused on early stage hatchery feed.

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EPRS - What if insects were on the menu in Europe?

Parlaments aicina ES darīt vairāk apputeksnētājkukaiņu labā

Infoclip: Novel Food - Insects and Algae

Fotoreportāžas (2)

Novel food - Insects : new protein source alternative

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Novel food - Insects are used as a main ingredient of a balanced meal.

Novel food - Insects are used as a main ingredient of a balanced meal.

Novel food - Insects : new protein source alternative

Novel food - Insects : new protein source alternative

Novel food - Insects : new protein source alternative

Novel food - Insects : new protein source alternative

Novel food - Insects : new protein source alternative

Novel food - Insects : new protein source alternative

Novel food - Insects : new protein source alternative

Audios (1)