EU says yes to worm bread and insect noodles – but why do we suddenly have to eat so many insects?
Europe, get ready! From February 10, your daily bread, pasta or cheese may contain a new ingredient – up to 4% of UV-treated mealworm powder. The European Commission praises it as a sustainable source of protein, but many citizens are wondering: Why do we suddenly have to eat so many insects?
From larva to “food”
What’s behind this new regulation? Mealworm larvae are first irradiated with UV light, then cooked and processed into a powder – an ingredient that can now appear in many foods.
This is no exception. The EU has already approved several insects as “novel foods”:
- Dried yellow mealworms (2021)
- Migratory locusts in powder form (2021)
- House crickets in various forms (2022)
- Fallen beetle larvae (2023)
And all this under the guise of sustainability. But what is really behind it?
Why so many insects all of a sudden?
The EU claims that insects are a sustainable alternative to meat. They require less water, less feed and produce less CO₂ than cattle or pigs. At the same time, food prices are rising due to rising energy costs and new climate policies.
But critics ask: Are populations being gradually converted to a new diet without any real choice? Many of the new insect products are not clearly labelled or appear in processed foods without consumers being aware of it.
Health risks and allergies
Although the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) considers insects safe, there are still open questions:
Cross-allergies: People who are allergic to shellfish may also react to insects.
Long-term effects unknown: Insects contain chitin, a substance that is difficult for humans to digest. The long-term health effects have hardly been studied.
Lack of transparency: Insect meal appears in many products under inconspicuous names such as “novel protein source” or “alternative protein”.
Sustainability or forced dietary change?
The EU is touting insects as the future of food, but for many citizens it feels more like a gradual transition without a real choice. As more and more traditional foods are made more expensive or difficult to digest due to regulations, scrolling through food on the plate is becoming the new normal.
Whether this is truly a sustainable solution – or just another experiment at the expense of consumers – remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: the new diet is coming – whether you like it or not.
Source:
https://uncutnews.ch/ab-dem-10-februar-erlaubt-die-eu-uv-behandeltes-mehlwurmpulver-versteckt-in-brot-pasta-und-snacks/
https://food.ec.europa.eu/food-safety/novel-food/authorisations/approval-insect-novel-food_en
Image: Pixabay.com
