Creeping and crawling through DNA: metabarcoding for identifying species in insect-based foods

Insect-Based Products (IBPs) have emerged as promising alternatives to conventional protein sources for human consumption, with the European Union currently authorising four insect species for food use. Their incorporation into processed foods (e.g., flours, snacks), which is done primarily to overcome consumer aversion, raises the risk of undeclared species being included, thus potentially undermining product authenticity and consumer rights. Here, the species authenticity of 18 IBPs, collected from various e-commerce platforms, was assessed using DNA metabarcoding. Our results showed widespread labelling non-compliance (∼ 67%), including erroneous or incomplete information, and a 50% mislabeling rate due to discrepancies between declared and detected species. These issues highlight weaknesses in edible insect supply chains, pointing to gaps in Food Business Operator (FBO) training and raising public health concerns. DNA metabarcoding proved to be a valuable tool for verifying IBPs authenticity and safety, opening up potential avenues for further exploring this complex supply chain. • The authenticity of insect-based products (IBPs) is poorly investigated. • A high rate of mislabeling (50%) was detected in IBPs. • Undeclared and unauthorized species in IBPs pose food safety concerns. • European regulatory frameworks for edible insects need to be improved. • DNA metabarcoding could support a more transparent and safer IBP supply chain.