Nutritional trend What to look for when eating insects

Beetles on the menu: What must be observed when eating insects

In some regions of Asia, Africa and Latin America, the consumption of insects has long been common. In the European Union, the sale of insects as food has been regulated since the beginning of the year. If you really want to consume the small animals, you should definitely follow some tips from consumer advocates.

Elsewhere, insects have long been on the menu

Mealworms, grasshoppers, beetles: In our culture, the eating of insects (Entomophagie) is rather uncommon, but in some regions of Asia, Latin America and Africa, the consumption of small animals has long been common. At the beginning of 2018, the European Union initiated new legislation. Insects or existing products such as pasta or burgers are already being offered more. If you want to try the unusual snacks, you should pay attention to some hints of the Verbraucherzentrale Hamburg.

Since the beginning of the year, the sale of insects as food in the EU is regulated by law. Anyone who now attacks insect burgers or similar foods should pay attention to a few hints. (Image: catherinelprod / fotolia.com)

Healthy and environmentally friendly diet

Although German experts have been working years ago on whether insects could be the better food and feed in the future, it was not until the beginning of this year that the sale of insects was regulated in the EU.

Since then, foods such as insect burgers and noodles or dried mealworms are available.

The consumer center Hamburg points out that insects contain a lot of protein and important unsaturated fatty acids and can be produced more environmentally friendly than meat.

"Even vitamins B2 and B12 are sometimes higher in amounts than wholegrain bread," the experts write on their website.

"Reliable data on vitamins and minerals are still very incomplete."

Do not eat animals from the pet store

However, despite the health benefits, only very few consumers will fall for the new products, after all, many people are disgusted by the small animals.

Anyone who wants to test them anyway, should eat only specially for human consumption produced animals and not self-collected insects or those from the pet store.

Because these could contain germs and parasites.

According to the data, there are no binding hygiene standards for insects as a human food.

But for the products available in the EU, which are mainly offered online and rarely in supermarkets, one can assume that the animals were bred under clean conditions.

Insects from breeding plants are usually deep-frozen, washed and blanched and then freeze-dried and packaged. Raw should not be consumed by insects.

Allergy sufferers have to take special care

People with allergies to dust mites or shellfish must be extra careful. They could develop a cross allergy to insects.

And anyone who is allergic to shrimp also often responds to mealworms.

"According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the risk of allergic reactions to insects is rather low," writes the consumer center. (Ad)