Edible insects in a food safety perspective

Abstract

Food safety aspects of edible insects are largely unknown but their widespread consumption worldwide supports the possibility of their consumption. In recent years the interest toward insects as food has grown also in countries with no previous experiences of consumption, where their diffusion was limited by legislative barriers or by the absence of specific rules laying them in a grey area. Evidence from traditional practises are useful to identify species suitable for human consumption and to exclude major food safety risk. However, tradition alone could not satisfy the need of data to set a proper legislation able to guarantee consumer safety. Data about biological and chemical risks are needed to appropriately manage potential risk deriving from insect farming and consumption along the food chain, with particular regard to the rearing substrate. Aim of this chapter is to discuss the value of current evidences about food safety of edible insects in the context of modern food safety system, to highlight data gaps and to suggest the need for further research.