This paper (open access) reports the results of an authenticity testing survey of insect-containing food and feed products, purchased both within and outside the EU.
119 commercial products were tested for the declared insect species, using two DNA-based methods, real-time PCR and metabarcoding,. All samples (test portions of 100 mg) were extracted following the method recommended by the European Union Reference Laboratory for Animal Proteins in Feedingstuffs
The authors report that 50% of the products contained insect species not listed on the label, or lacked the species that were declared. In particular, cross-contamination was observed when manufacturers worked with more than one type of insect. Some products contained insects that are not currently allowed for use in the European Union. Some insect meals also contained traces of animal DNA, which may come from the substrates the insects were raised on. The authors point out that this could cause legal problems if these meals are used in certain types of animal feed.
The authors conclude that their study highlights the need for better quality control in the insect production chain. It also shows that DNA tests are useful tools for authenticating the declared insect species in food and feed products.
Photo by Yeyo Salas on Unsplash
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