The program for insect food quality

The European Union (EU) approved in January the Acheta Domesticus, commonly known as the house cricket, to be commercialized starting on the 24th January 2023. The approved regulation allows food producers to introduce the dry powder of the house cricket into the EU market.
The new ingredient is very versatile to produce several foods, for example bakery; pasta; crisps and snacks; meat alternatives; protein bars; biscuits and pre-mixes for smoothies. Indeed a significant step for more sustainable consumption.

De Krekerij team, did it again, and just achieved the Entotrust certification for their HOPPER BURGER, sustainable food and health are for everyone. The new choice is a tender, savoury burger combining cricket meat with vegetable ingredients. This unique meat is sustainable having a mini environmental impact and nutritious for the high protein content and vitamin B12. Freshly frozen are ready to cook, available at specialty shops and national retailers. Join the crick-revolution! Read more.

De Krekerij team, based in the Netherlands, believes in a world with a future-proof food system, where good food and health come together. That's why they developed the tastiest MEAT BALLS from crickets and grasshoppers. Delicious and great to bite, high in protein, source of calcium, zinc and vitamin B12, all with a mini environmental impact. All the reason why they achieved the Entotrust certification. Chilled for highest quality, these “meatballs” are ready for pan or oven. Now available at LIDL in 420 stores. So, no time to waste, capture the great taste. Read more.

OKUILLI means worm, in the ancient Nahuatl language of the Aztecs, and OPTIPROT is the company in Cuernavaca, Mexico, that developed large scale farming of Tenebrio molitor. But this is modern superfood: high in protein (53%) and nutritious with iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium, omega 3 and 6, amino acids, free of chemicals and hormones. OPTIPROT achieved the Entotrust certification for high quality, food safety and for the farming committed to environmental sustainability, utilizing for example only natural and organic products as feed. Optiprot.com 

Fucibo chips are the first Italian product with insect flour, authorized by the European Community. An innovative baked corn snack, a familiar product to introduce consumers to edible insects. The insect content (Tenebrio molitor) is a source of proteins, iron, and vitamins and incredibly sustainable. For their high quality standards they achieved the Entotrust certification.
With less fats and carbohydrates, and more protein, you can indulge more often. Available in pizza and cheese flavours here.

Would you eliminate, starting tomorrow, all traditional meat from your diet and replace it with insect proteins, every day? There are thousands of scientific evidences that insects are healthy and rich in nutrients, but Loredana H. wanted to prove it in person. As young scientist she decided to have insect food daily for one month. This experience eliminates any doubt. Read the interview.

CRICK SUPERFOODS is the first company to produce insect based food in Ecuador. They wanted to make an impact re-inventing nachos with high content in cricket proteins. Good for people and good for the planet is the purpose of Francisca the energetic woman driving this successful team. They achieved the Entotrust certification for consistent high quality and sustainable practices. Two flavours (sea salt and chili) that consumers find irresistible, tasty and crunchy, while nutritionally balanced.

Researches with consumers show that the Entotrust logo visible on packaging increases perceived food safety by 40% for the same product without certification label. Additionally, it performs better than widely known food certifications (e.g. Organic, Fairtrade, Bio) in direct comparison on the same product, for consumer purchase intention and visual appeal. We are extremely proud of this recognition, that validates our mission.

The EU Commission in November 2021 authorised frozen, dried and powder forms of Locusta migratoria as a food (detail here).
Another achievement towards the wider adoption of insect based alternative proteins, thank to the application of the company Fair Insects located in the Netherlands. Albeit being an exclusive authorisation to "the applicant’s file for the sole use of the applicant” it does not prevent others from applying for the same novel food. Let’s stay tuned.

Credits: EU Commission, 2021.

The EU is planning to introduce mandatory human rights due diligence regulations. Many governments will be serious about addressing working conditions in supply chains. The insect food industry must avoid the pitfall of other food chains. The new laws would require retailers to show that suppliers adopted social standards. Part of the ENTOTRUST audit is to verify also social fairness. Read the full article here.

13 January 2021 can be considered a historical day in Europe for insect food. In fact, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) issued a positive assessment of Tenebrio molitor paving the way for a wider EU consensus, where some countries still ban its commercialization. Using insects in food is more than a trend, and the EFSA’s evaluation is essential for the policymakers who will decide for the wider EU authorization in the next months.

Credits: EFSA, all rights reserved. The EFSA Journal.

Over the last years, and nowadays with stronger emphasis on food safety and "earth care", a certification on packaging, which is not an obscure code, gives value to the product in consumer's perception. Studies confirm that preference is given to those products carrying quality certifications. Such labels on packaging provide proof of marketing statements, gain visibility and purchase. Read the full article.

Credits: Mauro Bianchi, all rights reserved.

With the hope of a definitive solution to the pandemic, good news is that the virus is not transmitted by food, both EFSA’s chief scientist, Marta Hugas and US FDA agree. This is valid also for insect-based foods, as confirmed by a recent review (Maciel-Vergara & Ros, 2017), when proper food handling and processing practices are applied. Stay healthy. Read the full article.

Credits: Entotrust team, all rights reserved.

The Danish team Syngja developed natural juices, with organic fruits, vegetables, and cricket powder. The refreshing and tasty shots, available in 3 flavours, offer an everyday boost for vitality and energy. The cricket powder and its B12 content constitute a key element for human health. The newly achieved Entotrust certification confirms safety, health and low environmental footprint.

Credits: Jakob Rukov founder. Syngja.dk

Since 2014, Entomo Farms has been developing large scale cricket farming. The protein powder is for B2B and for end consumers. Entomo Farms is the largest scale farm of crickets in North America.

They choose Entotrust to confirm their high standards of food safety and environmental sustainability. Entotrust certifies the whole chain from farm to fork, as a guarantee for consumers and in recognition of high quality food products..

Credits: Kelly Hagen, COO. Entomofarms.com

November 6th-8th. Entotrust joins the first Brazilian conference on edible insects, originated by ASBRACI and the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG). In the agenda: Ethno-Entomology, Entomoculture and Technologies (production, management, environment and techniques of processing, scale and associated biotechnologies); Food and Feed (quality and composition, storage and conservation); Market and Legislation.

Credits: INSETEC.

ZOFO is the brand name of oven dried and naturally spiced Zophobas morio developed by Chikle Project in Mexico. Available in 3 flavors and a unique salt mix, it is produced in the first Cancun insects farm already operating at scale, and recently ENTOTRUST certified. The chefs professional community already recognized outstanding taste and inspiration, while ENTOTRUST confirmed food safety and operations sustainability.

Credits: Andre Demontigny, Managing Director. zofo.mx

The food technology lab of Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Italy, presented the poster at the INSECTA 2019 expert conference in Potsdam, 5-6 September 2019. The pilot study, still ongoing, is aimed at evaluating the possibility of applying DART-HRMS to insect powder for authenticity purposes and it is carried out in collaboration with the Entotrust network. Entotrust was also sponsor of the conference. Download

Credits: Simone Belluco, IZSdV, all rights reserved.

Madagascar’s biodiversity is threatened by the rising demand for food, farming and wild lemur hunting, nowadays only 10% of natural habitat remains. But, how to cope with the world’s fourth highest rate of malnutrition? The IPSIO group of experts, Insects and People of the Southwest Indian Ocean, developed in the last 2 years a program to farm local insects for food purposes. ENTOTRUST contributed assessing the farm and processes, providing recommendations and certification of the key product: cricket protein powder. The Valala Farm is located in the Madagascar Biodiversity Center, Antananarivo.

A Malagasy proverb speaks “Valala iray hifanapahana” I have only one cricket but I will break it in half to share.

Credits: Brian Fisher coordinator. ipsio.org

Four flavours crackers by Cricke' have achieved the ENTOTRUST certification. The reengineered flat bread offers a contemporary and versatile source of protein. Assessed safe and sustainable, they scored utmostly low GHG emissions, 0,12 kg/year CO2. Check the co-founder video >

Credits: Edoardo Imparato, co-founder. crickefood.com

Fasopro, the shea-tree caterpillars manufacturer achieved the Entotrust certification. Based in Burkina Faso, with the mission to create a source of income for rural women involved in the seasonal collection, thus allowing the availability of this tasty and nutritious food all the year. The products and processes, from collection to packaging, have showed to be safe and highly sustainable.

Credits: Kahitouo Hien, founder and GM. fasopro.bf

Merci Mercado achieved the ENTOTRUST certification for food safety and sustainability. The wild collection of seasonal grasshoppers respects insect lifecycle, and allows local population to gain a fair extra income. A responsible product that truly matches tradition, nutritional richness and taste. Check the co-founder video >

Credits: Nahabi V. and Laurence H. mercimercado.com

Eating insects may be recommended for cancer prevention. An Italian study demonstrated that insects contain high concentrations of antioxidants. Prof Mauro Serafini reports that "in the future, we might adapt dietary regimens for insect rearing in order to increase their antioxidant content”.

Credits: University of Teramo, M.S., all rights reserved.

The Minusfarm Molitor comes from a responsible farm that has been independently certified to the ENTOTRUST quality standards. This insect food has met the ENTOTRUST food safety and sustainability requirements for farming and manufacturing. See here the video >

Credits: Virginie Mixe, co-founder. minusfarm.fr

We recommend this new study regarding wild harvested edible insects. With potential to contribute to nutrition security, yet the nutritional composition is often unknown. The study investigated the nutritional composition of wild harvested Eulepida mashona and Henicus whellani and its variation in different harvest places.

Credits: Faith A. Manditsera, Pieternel A. Luning, V. Fogliano, C.M.M. Lakemond.

Avaento is the company that developed the first beauty drink with silkworm peptides, Chrys Mei. The birth of this drink is the combination of traditional farming of silkworms and the latest food technologies. Rigorous processes and consistent quality are confirmed by ENTOTRUST.

Credits: Avaento Inc., Zilu Wan.

The book takes a multi-disciplinary approach to analysing how insects contribute to food systems around the world. Includes unique research on multiple countries. Features state-of-the-art research on farmed, semi-cultivated and wild insect species.

Springer Publishing. Editors: Halloran, A., Flore, R., Vantomme, P., Roos, N.

As we struggle to feed our growing population, here is how the champions of technology are going to shape our food. A short tutorial explaining nutrition alternatives and applied sciences.