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Technical Report Risk Profile on Edible Insects

Edible insects: Appendices

All appendices for the edible insects risk profile technical report.

Last updated: 3 October 2022
Last updated: 3 October 2022

 Table A

Microbial levels for different unprocessed edible insects (* potential EU food, †potential EU feed, ‡ potential pet food refer to EFSA, 2013?) measured the harvest stage (larval or adult).

Insect species Hazard Load (log cfu/g) Reference
Tenebrio molitor*‡ Total aerobic count 8.6 Caparros Megido et al., 2017
Tenebrio molitor*‡ Yeast and mould count 4.7 Caparros Megido et al., 2017
Tenebrio molitor*‡ (non-starved) Total aerobic count 6.4-7.8 Mancini et al., 2019a
Tenebrio molitor*‡ (non-starved) Enterobacteriaceae 5.8-6.4 Mancini et al., 2019a
Tenebrio molitor*‡ (non-starved) Staphylococci 3.8-5.9 Mancini et al., 2019a
Tenebrio molitor*‡ (non-starved) Lactic acid bacteria 5.2-6.2 Mancini et al., 2019a
Tenebrio molitor*‡ (non-starved) Bacterial endospores 0.0-5.3 Mancini et al., 2019a
Tenebrio molitor*‡ (starved) Total aerobic count 6.4-7.6 Mancini et al., 2019a
Tenebrio molitor*‡ (starved) Enterobacteriaceae 4.9-6.4 Mancini et al., 2019a
Tenebrio molitor*‡ (starved) Staphylococci 3.9-4.9 Mancini et al., 2019a
Tenebrio molitor*‡ (starved) Lactic acid bacteria 4.9-6.1 Mancini et al., 2019a
Tenebrio molitor*‡ (starved) Bacterial endospores 0.0-3.6 Mancini et al., 2019a
Tenebrio molitor*‡ Enterobacteriaceae 6.1-7.1 Osimani et al., 2018a
Tenebrio molitor*‡ Lactic acid bacteria 7.7-8.2 Osimani et al., 2018a
Tenebrio molitor*‡ Mesophilic aerobes 8.2-8.5 Osimani et al., 2018a
Tenebrio molitor*‡ Spore-forming bacteria 3.6-3.7 Osimani et al., 2018a
Tenebrio molitor*‡ Total aerobic count 7.7-8.3 Stoops et al., 2016
Tenebrio molitor*‡ Enterobacteriaceae 6.8-7.6 Stoops et al., 2016
Tenebrio molitor*‡ Lactic acid bacteria 7.0-7.6 Stoops et al., 2016
Tenebrio molitor*‡ Bacterial endospores <1.0-3.5 Stoops et al., 2016
Tenebrio molitor*‡ Yeast and mould count 5.2-5.7 Stoops et al., 2016
Tenebrio molitor*‡ Total aerobic count 8.0-9.3 Vandeweyer et al,. 2017a
Tenebrio molitor*‡ Enterobacteriaceae 6.8-8.3 Vandeweyer et al,. 2017a
Tenebrio molitor*‡ Lactic acid bacteria 7.3-8.2 Vandeweyer et al,. 2017a
Tenebrio molitor*‡ Aerobic bacterial endospores 1.7-5.0 Vandeweyer et al,. 2017a
Tenebrio molitor*‡ Bacterial endospores 4.8-9.1 Vandeweyer et al,. 2017a
Tenebrio molitor*‡ Yeast and mould count 4.2-7.5 Vandeweyer et al,. 2017a
Hermetia illucens† Bacillus cereus 3.82 Wyants et al., 2019
Acheta domesticus*‡ Total aerobic count 7.9 Caparros megido et al., 2017
Acheta domesticus*‡ Yeast and mould count

4.8

Caparros megido et al., 2017
Acheta domesticus*‡ Total aerobic count 8.1-8.8 Vandeweyer et al,. 2017a
Acheta domesticus*‡ Enterobacteriaceae 7.2-8.3 Vandeweyer et al,. 2017a
Acheta domesticus*‡ Lactic acid bacteria 7.4-8.8 Vandeweyer et al,. 2017a
Acheta domesticus*‡ Aerobic bacterial endospores 2.6-4.9 Vandeweyer et al,. 2017a
Acheta domesticus*‡ Bacterial endospores <3.0-5.5 Vandeweyer et al,. 2017a
Acheta domesticus*‡ Yeast and mould count 5.6-7.2 Vandeweyer et al,. 2017a
Locusta migratoria*‡ Total aerobic count 7.8-8.6 Stoops et al., 2016
Locusta migratoria*‡ Enterobacteriaceae 7.1-7.6 Stoops et al., 2016
Locusta migratoria*‡ Bacterial endospores 3.3-3.8 Stoops et al., 2016
Locusta migratoria*‡ Lactic acid bacteria

7.6-85

Stoops et al., 2016
Locusta migratoria*‡ Yeast and mould count 5.0-5.4 Stoops et al., 2016

2 Bacterial levels in both fresh insects and substrate were consistent with those reported by other authors other than Bacillus cereus levels. Authors concluded there existed no exclusive correlation between the substrate’s microbial composition and the microbial composition of the BSF larvae, and argue that these differences are caused by multiple other factors, including type of substrate, rearing practices and parental origin of the larvae.

Table B

Microbial levels for different processed edible insects (* potential EU food, ‡ potential pet food refer to EFSA, 2013).

Insect species Hazard Processing Load (log cfu/g) Reference
Tenebrio molitor*‡ Total aerobic count 1-min water (80-100c) 4.64 Caparros Megido et al., 2017
Tenebrio molitor*‡ Yeast and mould count 1-min water (80-100c) <1.0 Caparros Megido et al., 2017
Tenebrio molitor*‡ Total aerobic count Freeze dried 4.47 Caparros Megido et al., 2017
Tenebrio molitor*‡ Yeast and mould count Freeze dried <1.0 Caparros Megido et al., 2017
Tenebrio molitor*‡ Moulds Boiled and dried 2.21-2.30 Garofalo et al., 2017
Tenebrio molitor*‡ Mesophilic aerobes Boiled and dried 2.6-.4.8 Osimani et al., 2017c
Tenebrio molitor*‡ Enterobacteriaceae Boiled and dried <1.0 Osimani et al., 2017c
Tenebrio molitor*‡ Sulphite-reducing clostridia Boiled and dried 1.5-4.0 Osimani et al., 2017c
Tenebrio molitor*‡ Staphylococcus aureus Boiled and dried <1.0 Osimani et al., 2017c
Tenebrio molitor*‡ Bacillus cereus Boiled and dried <1.0 Osimani et al., 2017c
Tenebrio molitor*‡ Lactic acid bacteria Boiled and dried 1.7-2.8 Osimani et al., 2017c
Tenebrio molitor*‡ Yeasts and moulds Boiled and dried <1.0-2.4 Osimani et al., 2017c
Acheta domesticus*‡ Total aerobic count 4-min blanched 4.39 Caparros Megido et al., 2017
Acheta domesticus*‡ Yeast and mould count 4-min blanched <1.0 Caparros Megido et al., 2017
Acheta domesticus*‡ Total aerobic count Freeze dried 4.05 Caparros Megido et al., 2017
Acheta domesticus*‡ Yeast and mould count Freeze dried <1.0 Caparros Megido et al., 2017
Acheta domesticus*‡ (whole) Enterobacteriaceae, Clostridium perfringens spores and moulds Boiled and dried <2.00 Garofalo et al., 2017
Acheta domesticus*‡ (whole) Mesophillic aerobes Boiled and dried 4.01-4.50 Garofalo et al., 2017
Acheta domesticus*‡ (whole) Yeasts Boiled and dried 4.52-5.10 Garofalo et al., 2017
Acheta domesticus*‡ (powdered) Enterobacteriaceae, lactic acid bacteria, Clostridium perfringens spores and moulds Boiled and dried <2.00 Garofalo et al., 2017
Acheta domesticus*‡ (powdered) Mesophilic aerobes Boiled and dried 3.91-4.80 Garofalo et al., 2017
Acheta domesticus*‡ (powdered) Moulds Boiled and dried 2.92-3.10 Garofalo et al., 2017
Acheta domesticus*‡ (whole) Mesophilic aerobes Boiled and dried 4.2 Osimani et al., 2017c
Acheta domesticus*‡ (whole) Enterobacteriaceae, suplhite-reducing clostridia, Staphylococcus aureus and yeasts and moulds Boiled and dried <1.0 Osimani et al., 2017c
Acheta domesticus*‡ (whole) Bacillus cereus  Boiled and dried 3.6 Osimani et al., 2017c
Acheta domesticus*‡ (whole) Lactic acid bacteria Boiled and dried 2.1 Osimani et al., 2017c
Acheta domesticus*‡ (powdered) Mesophilic aerobes Boiled and dried 5.0 Osimani et al., 2017c
Acheta domesticus*‡ (powdered) Enterobacteriaceae Boiled and dried 3.1 Osimani et al., 2017c
Acheta domesticus*‡ (powdered) Sulphite-reducing clostridia Boiled and dried 2.8 Osimani et al., 2017c
Acheta domesticus*‡ (powdered) Staphylococcus aureus Boiled and dried

<1.0

Osimani et al., 2017c
Acheta domesticus*‡ (powdered) Bacillus cereus  Boiled and dried 5.1 Osimani et al., 2017c
Acheta domesticus*‡ (powdered) Lactic acid bacteria Boiled and dried 5.5 Osimani et al., 2017c
Acheta domesticus*‡ (powdered) Yeasts Boiled and dried 2.0 Osimani et al., 2017c
Acheta domesticus*‡ (powdered) Moulds Boiled and dried 3.3 Osimani et al., 2017c
Gryllodes sigillatus*‡ Total viable counts Boiled 2.6 Vandeweyer et al., 2018
Gryllodes sigillatus*‡ Total viable counts Frozen (-20c) 2.4 Vandeweyer et al., 2018
Gryllodes sigillatus*‡ Total viable counts Oven dried (10 hours 80c) 4.3 Vandeweyer et al., 2018
Gryllodes sigillatus*‡ Total viable counts Smoked and dried 7.93 Vandeweyer et al., 2018
Schistocerca gregaria*‡ (whole) Mesophillic aerobes Boiled and dried 4.1 Osimani et al., 2017c
Schistocerca gregaria*‡ (whole) Enterobacteriaceae, sulphite-reducing clostridia, Staphylococcus aureus Boiled and dried <1.0 Osimani et al., 2017c
Schistocerca gregaria*‡ (whole) Bacillus cereus Boiled and dried 2.1 Osimani et al., 2017c
Schistocerca gregaria*‡ (whole) Lactic acid bacteria Boiled and dried 2.4 Osimani et al., 2017c
Schistocerca gregaria*‡ (whole) Yeasts Boiled and dried 2.0 Osimani et al., 2017c
Schistocerca gregaria*‡ (whole) Moulds Boiled and dried 2.2 Osimani et al., 2017c

Authors associate this higher count to external contamination after treatment.

Table C

Composition variability for insects (DM= dry matter; * potential EU food, †potential EU feed, ‡ potential pet food refer to EFSA, 2013).

Species Feed Fibre Fat Protein Ash Moisture Reference
Hermetia ilucens† (Larvae day 1) Chicken feed - 4.8% 56.2% - - Liu et al., 2017
Hermetia ilucens† (Larvae day 14) Chicken feed - 28.4% 39.2% - - Liu et al., 2017
Hermetia ilucens† (Pupa) - - 7.2% 43.8% - - Liu et al., 2017
Hermetia ilucens† (Adults) Chicken feed - 21.6% 57.6% - - Liu et al., 2017
Hermetia ilucens† (Larvae) Vegetables - 2% 14% - 78% Jucker et al., 2017
Hermetia ilucens† (Larvae) Fruit - 21% 12% - 62% Jucker et al., 2017
Hermetia ilucens† (Larvae) Fruit and vegetables - 12% 18% - 62% Jucker et al., 2017
Hermetia ilucens† (Larvae) Plant-based - 33.8% - 5.1% 63.4% Liu et al., 2017
Hermetia ilucens† (Larvae) Asophyllum nodosum - 8.1% - 15.8% 76.9% Liu et al., 2017
Hermetia ilucens† (Larvae) Fruit and vegetables (7:3) 17%DM 26.8%DM 41.8%DM 12.9%DM - Meneguz et al., 2018
Hermetia ilucens† (Larvae) Fruit 19.7%DM 40.7%DM 30.7%DM 7.2%DM - Meneguz et al., 2018
Hermetia ilucens† (Larvae) Winery by-products 17.7%DM 32.2%DM 34.4%DM 14.5%DM - Meneguz et al., 2018
Hermetia ilucens† (Larvae) Brewery by-products 8.7% 29.8%DM 52.9%DM 7.3%DM - Meneguz et al., 2018
Hermetia ilucens† (Larvae) Poultry feed 8.75% 4.02% 14.7% - 66.5% Nguyen et al., 2015
Hermetia ilucens† (Larvae) Pig liver 13.7% 8.39% 21% - 55.3% Nguyen et al., 2015
Hermetia ilucens† (Larvae) Fruit and vegetables 8.38% 2.2% 12.9% - 71.8% Nguyen et al., 2015
Hermetia ilucens† (Larvae) Rendered fish 12.7% 11.6% 19.4% - 53.4% Nguyen et al., 2015
Tenebrio molitor*† (Larvae) Brewery spent grains 12.54% 6.46% 13.22% - 66.66% Mancini et al., 2019a
Tenebrio molitor*† (Larvae) Bread 6.09% 14.82% 10.73% - 67.38% Mancini et al., 2019a
Tenebrio molitor*† (Larvae) Cookies 6.72% 17.77% 10.15% - 64.45% Mancini et al., 2019a
Tenebrio molitor*† (Larvae) Grains and cookies 11.26% 11.77% 13.44% - 62.47% Mancini et al., 2019a
Tenebrio molitor*† (Larvae) Bread and cookies 6.12% 17.48% 10.72% - 64.66% Mancini et al., 2019a

Table D

Key hazards identified in this literature review by insect species

Species: Acheta domesticus

Hazards identified:

Microorganisms (other than parasites) 

  • Aerobic bacteria (Caparros Megido et al., 2017, Vandeweyer et al., 2017a, Garofalo et al., 2017, Osimani et al., 2017c)
  • Yeasts and moulds (Caparros Megido et al., 2017, Vandeweyer et al., 2017a, Garofalo et al., 2017, Osimani et al., 2017c)
  • Lactic acid bacteria (Vandeweyer et al., 2017a, Garofalo et al., 2017, Osimani et al., 2017c)
  • Bacterial endospores (Vandeweyer et al., 2017a, Garofalo et al., 2017, Osimani et al., 2017c)
  • Enterobacteriaceae (Vandeweyer et al., 2017a, Garofalo et al., 2017, Osimani et al., 2017c)
  • Staphylococcus aureus (Osimani et al., 2017c)
  • Cronobacter sakazakii (Walia et al. 2018) 

Parasites

  • Isospora spp. (Gałęcki and Sokół, 2019)

AMR genes

  • tet(M) (Milanović et al., 2016)
  • tet(K) (Milanović et al., 2016)
  • tet(O) (Milanović et al., 2016)
  • tet(S) (Roncoli et al. 2019)

Allergenicity: Cross-reactivity

  • Tropomyosin (Pali-Schöll et al., 2019)

Species: Hermetia ilucens

Hazards identified:

Microorganisms (other than parasites) 

  • Bacillus cereus (Wynants et al., 2019)

Parasites

  • Eimeria nieschulzi (Muller et al. 2019)
    Eimeria tenella (Muller et al. 2019)
    Ascaris suum (Muller et al. 2019)

Heavy metals accumulation:

  • Cadmium (Biancarosa et al. 2018, Purschke et al. 2017)
  • Arsenic (Biancarosa et al. 2018)
  • Mercury (Biancarosa et al. 2018)
  • Lead (Biancarosa et al. 2018, Purschke et al. 2017)
  • Mycotoxins accumulation
  • Aflatoxin B1 (Bosch et al. 2017)

Species: Locusta Migratoria

Hazards identified:

Microorganisms (other than parasites) 

  • Aerobic bacteria (Stoops et al., 2016)
    Yeasts and moulds (Stoops et al., 2016)
    Lactic acid bacteria (Stoops et al., 2016)
    Bacterial endospores (Stoops et al., 2016)
    Enterobacteria (Stoops et al., 2016)

Parasites

  • Isospora spp. (Gałęcki and Sokół, 2019)
    Balantidium spp. (Gałęcki and Sokół, 2019)
    Entamoeba spp. (Gałęcki and Sokół, 2019)

AMR genes

  • tet(M) (Osimani et al., 2017b)
    tet(K) (Osimani et al., 2017b)
    bla(Z) (Osimani et al., 2017b)
    erm- (Osimani et al., 2017b)
    aac-aph (Osimani et al., 2017b)

Species: Tenebrio molitor

Hazards identified:

Microorganisms (other than parasites) 

  • Aerobic bacteria (Caparros Megido et al., 2017, Mancini et al., 2019a, Osimani et al., 2017c, Osimani et al., 2018a, Stoops et al., 2016, Vandeweyer et al., 2017a)
    Yeasts and moulds (Caparros Megido et al., 2017, Mancini et al., 2019a, Stoops et al., 2016, Vandeweyer et al., 2017a, Osimani et al., 2017c)
    Lactic acid bacteria (Mancini et al., 2019a, Osimani et al., 2017c, Osimani et al., 2018a, Stoops et al., 2016, Vandeweyer et al., 2017a)
    Bacterial endospores (Mancini et al., 2019a, Osimani et al., 2018a, Stoops et al., 2016, Vandeweyer et al., 2017a) 
    Staphylococci (Mancini et al., 2019a, Osimani et al., 2017c)
    Enterobacteriaceae (Mancini et al., 2019a, Stoops et al., 2016, Vandeweyer et al., 2017a, Osimani et al., 2017c)

Parasites

  • Isospora spp. (Gałęcki and Sokół, 2019)
    Balantidium spp. (Gałęcki and Sokół, 2019)
    Entamoeba spp. (Gałęcki and Sokół, 2019)

AMR genes and substances

  • tet(M) (Milanović et al., 2016)
    tet(S) (Milanović et al., 2016)
    tet(K) (Milanović et al., 2016)
    erm(B) (Osimani et al., 2017a)
    aac-aph (Osimani et al., 2017a)
    Chitosan (Shin et al., 2019)

Heavy metals accumulation

  • Cadmium (Bednarska and Świątek 2016, van der Fels-Klerx et al. 2016)
  • Zinc (Bednarska and Świątek, 2016)
  • Arsenic (van der Fels-Klerx et al. 2016)
  • Lead (van der Fels-Klerx et al. 2016)

Mycotoxins accumulation

  • Aflatoxin B1 (Bosch et al. 2017)

Pesticides accumulation

  • Diflufenican (Houbraken et al., 2016)
    Fenpropimorph (Houbraken et al., 2016)
    Isoproturon (Houbraken et al., 2016)
    Linuron (Houbraken et al., 2016)
    Mefenoxam (Houbraken et al., 2016)
    Pendimethalin (Houbraken et al., 2016)
    Pyrimethanil (Houbraken et al., 2016)
    Tebuconazole (Houbraken et al., 2016)

Allergenicity: cross-reactivity

  • Apolipophorin-III (Barre et al., 2019)
    Larval cuticular protein (Barre et al., 2019)
    Hemolymph protein (Barre et al., 2019)
    Tropomyosin (Pali-Schöll et al., 2019, Broekman et al., 2016)

Species: Schistocerca gregaria

Hazards identified:

Microorganisms (other than parasites) 

  • Aerobic bacteria (Osimani et al., 2017c)
    Yeasts and moulds (Osimani et al., 2017c)
    Bacillus cereus (Osimani et al., 2017c)
    Enterobacteriaceae (Osimani et al., 2017c)
    Staphylococcus aureus (Osimani et al., 2017c)

Allergencity: cross-reactivity

  • Tropomyosin (Pali-Schöll et al., 2019)

Species: Blattodea spp.

Hazards identified:

Parasites

  • Isospora spp. (Gałęcki and Sokół, 2019)
    Balantidium spp. (Gałęcki and Sokół, 2019)
    Entamoeba spp. (Gałęcki and Sokół, 2019)

Species: Musca domestica

Hazards identified:

Microorganisms (other than Parasites)

  • Salmonella enterica (Pava-ripoll et al. 2015)
    Cronobacter sakazakii (Pava-ripoll et al. 2015)
    Escherichia coli 0157:h7 (Pava-ripoll et al. 2015)
    Listeria monocytogenes (Pava-ripoll et al. 2015)

Species: Bombyx mori

Hazards identified:

AMR genes

  • tet(S) (Milanović et al., 2016)
    tet(K) (Milanović et al., 2016)
    bla(Z) (Milanović et al., 2016)
    BmGlv2 (Shin et al., 2019)

Heavy metals accumulation

  • Arsenic (Feng et al. 2019)
  • Cadmium (Feng et al. 2019)
  • Lead (Feng et al. 2019)