Safety of UV‐treated powder of whole yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor larva) as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283

Abstract Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on UV‐treated powder of whole yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor larva) as a novel food (NF) pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. The term yel...

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Main Authors: EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA Panel), Dominique Turck, Torsten Bohn, Jacqueline Castenmiller, Stefaan De Henauw, Karen Ildico Hirsch‐Ernst, Alexandre Maciuk, Inge Mangelsdorf, Harry J McArdle, Androniki Naska, Carmen Pelaez, Kristina Pentieva, Alfonso Siani, Frank Thies, Sophia Tsabouri, Marco Vinceti, Margarita Aguilera‐Gómez, Francesco Cubadda, Thomas Frenzel, Marina Heinonen, Rosangela Marchelli, Monika Neuhäuser‐Berthold, Morten Poulsen, Miguel Prieto Maradona, Alexandros Siskos, Josef Rudolf Schlatter, Henk vanLoveren, Panagiota Zakidou, Ermolaos Ververis, Helle Katrine Knutsen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2023-06-01
Series:EFSA Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2023.8009
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author EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA Panel)
Dominique Turck
Torsten Bohn
Jacqueline Castenmiller
Stefaan De Henauw
Karen Ildico Hirsch‐Ernst
Alexandre Maciuk
Inge Mangelsdorf
Harry J McArdle
Androniki Naska
Carmen Pelaez
Kristina Pentieva
Alfonso Siani
Frank Thies
Sophia Tsabouri
Marco Vinceti
Margarita Aguilera‐Gómez
Francesco Cubadda
Thomas Frenzel
Marina Heinonen
Rosangela Marchelli
Monika Neuhäuser‐Berthold
Morten Poulsen
Miguel Prieto Maradona
Alexandros Siskos
Josef Rudolf Schlatter
Henk vanLoveren
Panagiota Zakidou
Ermolaos Ververis
Helle Katrine Knutsen
author_facet EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA Panel)
Dominique Turck
Torsten Bohn
Jacqueline Castenmiller
Stefaan De Henauw
Karen Ildico Hirsch‐Ernst
Alexandre Maciuk
Inge Mangelsdorf
Harry J McArdle
Androniki Naska
Carmen Pelaez
Kristina Pentieva
Alfonso Siani
Frank Thies
Sophia Tsabouri
Marco Vinceti
Margarita Aguilera‐Gómez
Francesco Cubadda
Thomas Frenzel
Marina Heinonen
Rosangela Marchelli
Monika Neuhäuser‐Berthold
Morten Poulsen
Miguel Prieto Maradona
Alexandros Siskos
Josef Rudolf Schlatter
Henk vanLoveren
Panagiota Zakidou
Ermolaos Ververis
Helle Katrine Knutsen
author_sort EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA Panel)
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on UV‐treated powder of whole yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor larva) as a novel food (NF) pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. The term yellow mealworm refers to the larval form of the insect species T. molitor. The NF is the UV‐treated powder of the whole, thermally dried yellow mealworm. The NF consists mainly of crude protein, fat, digestible carbohydrates and fibre (chitin). The Panel notes that the levels of contaminants in the NF highly depend on the occurrence levels of these substances in the insect feed. The Panel notes furthermore that there are no safety concerns regarding the stability of the NF if the NF complies with the proposed specification limits during its entire shelf life. The NF has a high protein content, although the true protein content in the NF is overestimated when using the nitrogen‐to‐protein conversion factor of 6.25, due to the presence of non‐protein nitrogen. The applicant proposed to use the NF as an ingredient in various food products, such as bakery products, pasta, compotes of fruit/vegetables and cheese. The target population is the general population. The Panel notes that considering the composition of the NF, the proposed conditions of use and that the NF will not be the sole source of dietary protein, the consumption of the NF is not nutritionally disadvantageous. Despite the UV treatment, the Panel notes that the NF is not a significant dietary contributor of vitamin D3. The submitted toxicity studies from the literature did not raise safety concerns. The Panel considers that the consumption of the NF may induce primary sensitisation and allergic reactions to yellow mealworm proteins and may cause allergic reactions in subjects with allergies to crustaceans and dust mites. Additionally, allergens from the feed may end up in the NF. With the exception of possible allergenicity, the Panel concludes that the NF is safe under the proposed uses and use levels.
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spelling doaj-art-795bfa2eca784cf8b21d09632f8e0cab2025-08-20T02:15:59ZengWileyEFSA Journal1831-47322023-06-01216n/an/a10.2903/j.efsa.2023.8009Safety of UV‐treated powder of whole yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor larva) as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA Panel)Dominique TurckTorsten BohnJacqueline CastenmillerStefaan De HenauwKaren Ildico Hirsch‐ErnstAlexandre MaciukInge MangelsdorfHarry J McArdleAndroniki NaskaCarmen PelaezKristina PentievaAlfonso SianiFrank ThiesSophia TsabouriMarco VincetiMargarita Aguilera‐GómezFrancesco CubaddaThomas FrenzelMarina HeinonenRosangela MarchelliMonika Neuhäuser‐BertholdMorten PoulsenMiguel Prieto MaradonaAlexandros SiskosJosef Rudolf SchlatterHenk vanLoverenPanagiota ZakidouErmolaos VerverisHelle Katrine KnutsenAbstract Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on UV‐treated powder of whole yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor larva) as a novel food (NF) pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. The term yellow mealworm refers to the larval form of the insect species T. molitor. The NF is the UV‐treated powder of the whole, thermally dried yellow mealworm. The NF consists mainly of crude protein, fat, digestible carbohydrates and fibre (chitin). The Panel notes that the levels of contaminants in the NF highly depend on the occurrence levels of these substances in the insect feed. The Panel notes furthermore that there are no safety concerns regarding the stability of the NF if the NF complies with the proposed specification limits during its entire shelf life. The NF has a high protein content, although the true protein content in the NF is overestimated when using the nitrogen‐to‐protein conversion factor of 6.25, due to the presence of non‐protein nitrogen. The applicant proposed to use the NF as an ingredient in various food products, such as bakery products, pasta, compotes of fruit/vegetables and cheese. The target population is the general population. The Panel notes that considering the composition of the NF, the proposed conditions of use and that the NF will not be the sole source of dietary protein, the consumption of the NF is not nutritionally disadvantageous. Despite the UV treatment, the Panel notes that the NF is not a significant dietary contributor of vitamin D3. The submitted toxicity studies from the literature did not raise safety concerns. The Panel considers that the consumption of the NF may induce primary sensitisation and allergic reactions to yellow mealworm proteins and may cause allergic reactions in subjects with allergies to crustaceans and dust mites. Additionally, allergens from the feed may end up in the NF. With the exception of possible allergenicity, the Panel concludes that the NF is safe under the proposed uses and use levels.https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2023.8009novel foodsfood safetyTenebrio molitor larvayellow mealworminsect powderUV radiation
spellingShingle EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA Panel)
Dominique Turck
Torsten Bohn
Jacqueline Castenmiller
Stefaan De Henauw
Karen Ildico Hirsch‐Ernst
Alexandre Maciuk
Inge Mangelsdorf
Harry J McArdle
Androniki Naska
Carmen Pelaez
Kristina Pentieva
Alfonso Siani
Frank Thies
Sophia Tsabouri
Marco Vinceti
Margarita Aguilera‐Gómez
Francesco Cubadda
Thomas Frenzel
Marina Heinonen
Rosangela Marchelli
Monika Neuhäuser‐Berthold
Morten Poulsen
Miguel Prieto Maradona
Alexandros Siskos
Josef Rudolf Schlatter
Henk vanLoveren
Panagiota Zakidou
Ermolaos Ververis
Helle Katrine Knutsen
Safety of UV‐treated powder of whole yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor larva) as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283
EFSA Journal
novel foods
food safety
Tenebrio molitor larva
yellow mealworm
insect powder
UV radiation
title Safety of UV‐treated powder of whole yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor larva) as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283
title_full Safety of UV‐treated powder of whole yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor larva) as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283
title_fullStr Safety of UV‐treated powder of whole yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor larva) as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283
title_full_unstemmed Safety of UV‐treated powder of whole yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor larva) as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283
title_short Safety of UV‐treated powder of whole yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor larva) as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283
title_sort safety of uv treated powder of whole yellow mealworm tenebrio molitor larva as a novel food pursuant to regulation eu 2015 2283
topic novel foods
food safety
Tenebrio molitor larva
yellow mealworm
insect powder
UV radiation
url https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2023.8009
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