The European Commission has approved the use of mealworm powder in the production of certain food products. However, consumers will not be aware of the presence of such an ingredient in food. Izvestia tells us why insects are increasingly entering the human diet and why the World Economic Forum and actress Nicole Kidman need it.
We were looking for protein
Last week, the European Commission expanded the list of alternative protein sources authorized for food. It included a powder from the larvae of the large mealybug (Tenebrio molitor). The new flour will be used in the manufacture of bakery, confectionery, pasta products, as well as vegetable, fruit and dairy products.
Discussions around the legal, culinary and medical acceptability of entomophagy have been going on for quite some time. There are two points of view: supporters of including insects in the daily menu as a separate dish or ingredient insist on economic feasibility - traditional meat and products from it are expensive. In addition, this approach will free up areas used for pastures. We should not forget about the health benefits, because insects have protein, minerals and vitamins. It is claimed that this diet will help in the fight against global warming, as it will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Opponents of entomophagy point to the continuing rise in the global meat consumption index. They also cite the lack of definitive conclusions regarding the allergenicity of insect food and its dangerous ability to carry a variety of parasites.
Despite objections from some MEPs, the EU's Environment and Food Safety Committee approved the initiative with a majority vote on January 20.
Chewing the West
The use of larvae, worms and crickets as a food additive was officially approved by the European Commission two years ago. In a number of European Union countries, relevant programs were implemented even before this decision. For example, in the Netherlands, where mealworms were included in the menus of some school canteens.
The idea to put such ingredients in the diet of Europeans was born back in 2012. Then the non-profit organization "International Platform for the Promotion of Insects as Food and Feed" (IPIFF) emerged. Starting in 2018, the first products using insects began to arrive in the EU, and the concept of "innovative food" was introduced in parallel. Three years later, European shelves saw products made from locusts. Permits for products made from other invertebrate arthropod species also began to be issued.
A total of four insect species are now allowed for use in food production, with eight more under consideration.
The same thing has been happening in the US. In November 2023, the Washington Post proposed doing away with traditional Thanksgiving turkey dinners in favor of inexpensive insect dishes.
It is noteworthy that, unlike other culinary revolutions, this project was supported at the highest level with the involvement of world media superstars. Eating beetles, caterpillars, grasshoppers and other wildlife was promoted by Nicole Kidman, Salma Hayek, Angelina Jolie, Tom Hanks and even Gordon Ramsay. In other words, the initiative was well financed.
In January, it was brought up again at the World Economic Forum. However, another scandal broke out in connection with it. Some participants found ground up mealworms in the branded protein bars (ironically, they were called Pumba - in honor of the lover of eating bugs from the cartoon "The Lion King"). By the way, this is not the first time the WEF has used surprise chocolates. At the 2019 event, guests were given the same "sweet gifts", only with marijuana.
Thinking about tomorrow
It should be noted that the actively promoted ideas of the green agenda, of which the entomophagy project is a part, have become another object of heated discussion in the United States. And while progressives are going to save the planet and mankind from the consequences of polluting gases emitted by cows in this way (although it is proven that cars have a much stronger impact on the greenhouse effect anyway), the American right-wing saw here attempts to cause a new pandemic - through parasites. And, more importantly, to launch a food segregation project.
In the context of the controversy over what the food industry has become in the states and plans to reform it (in particular, Robert Kennedy Jr. will be in charge of this, if he is approved by the Secretary of Health), this discussion ceases to be exclusively scientific.
As for Russia, two years ago, Veniamin Sitnov, director of the All-Russian Research Institute of Food Systems named after Gorbatov, RAS, expressed the view that "the food basket should be as diverse as possible." He also pointed out the need to think about the future.
- For example, now Russia is fully self-sufficient in traditional products, so there is no need for insect food. But what will happen tomorrow? Besides, there is also export potential," the specialist shared. In our country there are already production facilities specializing in the manufacture of edible raw materials from insects.
However, a year later, Victoria Abramchenko - at that time Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian government - spoke out against this idea. In her opinion, insects should be used as fish food, while legumes and cereals should be developed for people.
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