2024年12月16日,据欧盟食品安全局(EFSA)消息,欧盟营养、新型食品和食物过敏原(NDA)研究小组就冻干家蟋蟀粉(frozen, dried and powder forms of house crickets)作为新型食品的安全性发表科学意见。
经过评估,专家小组得出结论,在提议的使用条件下,冻干家蟋蟀粉作为新型食品是安全的。部分原文报道如下:
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 the safety of frozen, dried and powder forms of house crickets (Acheta domesticus) as a novel food (NF) pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. The NF is proposed in three forms: (i) frozen, (ii) dried, (iii) powder. The main components of the NF are protein, fat and dietary fibre (chitin). The Panel notes that the concentration of contaminants in the NF depends on the occurrence levels of these substances in the insect feed. The NF has a protein content that ranges between 19.7 and 20.9 g/100 g in the frozen form and 61.7–68.6 g/100 g in the dried and powder forms. The Panel acknowledges that the true protein content is overestimated when using the nitrogen-to-protein conversion factor of 6.25 due to the presence of non-protein nitrogen from chitin. The applicant proposed to use the NF as food ingredient in a number of food products. The target population proposed by the applicant is the general population. Considering the composition of the NF and the proposed conditions of use, the consumption of the NF is not nutritionally disadvantageous. The Panel notes that no safety concerns arise from the toxicological information on A. domesticus. The Panel considers that the consumption of the NF might trigger primary sensitisation to A. domesticus proteins and may cause allergic reactions in subjects allergic to crustaceans, mites and molluscs. Additionally, allergens from the feed may end up in the NF. The Panel concludes that the NF is safe under the proposed uses and use levels.