UK Edible Insect Association warns market entry barriers restrict sustainable protein

04 Dec 2023 --- The European Novel Food regulations impose an “extremely high barrier to entry for edible insect companies and ignore the sector’s potential to build a more sustainable food system,” according to the UK Edible Insect Association (UKEIA).

The organization has published a new and extensive report for the Food Standards Agency to inform their review of the Novel Food Regulations, highlighting a growing number of insect species that have been extensively researched regarding their potential for human consumption.

UKEIA’s review of published scientific literature has established that professional farming practices will result in food ingredients with no more risks than those of commonly eaten foods such as chicken, pork and shellfish.

The association argues that effective and science-led standards developed within the sector and a licensing requirement for farmers will provide thorough consumer protection.

Sustainable hub for protein 
According to UKEIA, the UK has “potential to build a substantial hub of insect farmers and food product innovators but will require a significant change in the regulation of the sector.”

UKEIA published a new and extensive report for the Food Standards Agency to inform their review of the Novel Food Regulations.The replacement of the European Novel Food regulations with a different model could represent a tangible benefit for the UK to demonstrate the advantages of independence from Europe.

“Insects have a critical role to play in creating a sustainable future food system,” says Aaron Thomas, Chair of UKEIA’s Board and co-founder of Yum Bug. 

“The Novel Food regulations in the UK have provided a substantial challenge to our sector’s innovation and growth, which we feel is disproportionate to consumer risks. Yum Bug has successfully introduced tens to hundreds of thousands of consumers to edible insects and has absolutely no reason to think any have come to harm.”

“We strongly endorse the suggestions for a more balanced approach to protecting consumers and offering more sustainable food options.” 

Meanwhile, Peter Jackson, director of the Institute for Sustainable Food at the University of Sheffield, UK, reflects that feeding a growing population is “a major challenge.”

“As well as reducing meat consumption and promoting a higher intake of fruits, vegetables and pulses, other innovative approaches focus on the increased consumption of alternative protein sources, such as insects.”

The Institute for Sustainable Food has partnered with the UK Edible Insect Association to produce this independent review of the evidence surrounding the safety of insect consumption.

“[The partnership] comes at a crucial time when the UK’s exit from the EU presents a unique opportunity to review the current legislation on novel foods and propose some alternatives consistent with the scientific evidence and proportionate to the foreseeable risks,” he says.

Insects for reducing waste 
Across the Atlantic, in other insect-based developments, US-based scientists recently revealed they are targeting dairy waste reduction by mass-producing the black soldier fly that feeds on it and evaluating the insect’s potential as a feed for livestock and domestic pets. 

The project aims to explore the environmental health and economic benefits of converting dairy waste into protein for feed, with the post-digestion residue acting as a fertilizer. 

As Tyson Foods told us last month, black soldier flies can eat up to twice their body weight daily, which the company uses to enable a closed-loop recycling system. 

Edited by Elizabeth Green