The nutritional quality and safety of edible insects _ ten years on
The cultivation of edible insects to provide an alternative, sustainable protein source is growing, and assuring their nutritional quality and safety is critical for acceptance by consumers. The original risk profiling was undertaken around ten years ago since when the knowledge base about farmed insects has increased. The updated safety data gap analysis from the Giant Leaps project has shown that many of the original conclusions remain true and risks can be mitigated by managing the quality of feedstock and hygienic rearing practices. Despite advances, evidence is still lacking regarding the nutritional quality, microbiological, chemical and allergenic risks of edible insects. Knowledge gaps remain regarding differences between insect species, life stages and how food processing procedures can be used to improve nutritional quality and mitigate safety risks. Filling such data gaps will also support the development of safe insect feed from food waste, critical for sustainable production.
Authors
- Stéphane Hazebrouck (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4828-7031)
- Chiara Nitride (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3587-6187)
- Merel Celine Daas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-7909-2434)
- Jakob Lewin Rukov (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-2800-3900)
- Nathan Meijer
- Hans Verhagen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7952-3530)
- M. Wakefield (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0127-0988)
- Harry J. Wichers (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8030-7090)
- H.J. van der Fels-Klerx
- Diana Salgado
- Laurie Stevenson
- Federica Orsenigo
- Sander Biesboek
- E.N. Clare Mills
Institutions
- Fera Science (United Kingdom) (GB)
- Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives (FR)
- Université Paris-Saclay (FR)
- University of Surrey (GB)
- University of Manchester (GB)
- Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (FR)
- Federico II University Hospital (IT)
- CEA Paris-Saclay (FR)
- Food & Nutrition (NL)
- Vestas (Denmark) (DK)
- University of Naples Federico II (IT)
- Wageningen University & Research (NL)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Food Chemistry
- Published
- 2026-04-07
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2026.149170
- Primary Topic
- Insect Utilization and Effects
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- UK Research and Innovation
- Ministerie van Economische Zaken en Klimaat
- HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
- Innovate UK