-  The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) deems mealworms safe for human 
consumption -

Getting the provisional green light from the EFSA[1] is a major step forward 
for the industry. It should pave the way for future approvals, particularly on 
human consumption of defatted insect protein, which represents the largest 
human food market segment in terms of value and volumes, especially in sports 
and health nutrition. 

    -- Ynsect has identified these markets as the most promising with 
       YnMeal, one of its defatted ingredients. 
    -- Ynsect has submitted its Novel Food application (without requesting 
       information protection for five years, so that its data can be used 
       by all within the European sector) demonstrating an allergen profile 
       much lower than using the whole insect. 
    -- Ynsect will be filing a GRAS request in the USA in the coming months 
       to serve the world's largest market for fitness and sports 
       nutrition. 
    -- Ynsect has already signed a commercial contract within these 
       markets, demonstrating its leading position in the industry. 

On January 13, 2021, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) announced a 
favourable safety assessment of mealworms for human food following the work 
done by a French IPIFF[2] Food Task Force and its members. The EFSA has 
concluded that this product is safe for human consumption, under the procedures 
required by the European Union regarding new food legislation (EU Regulation 
2015/2283). This favourable assessment will have to be confirmed by the 
European Commission's Health Directorate General, which will give the final 
authorisation for market approval in the European Union.

The mealworm is the first insect to receive a positive safety evaluation for 
human consumption in the world. This is a recognition that mealworm ingredients 
are premium products as they are uniquely "food grade" compared to other 
insects used only in animal feed. 

"This breakthrough is a major achievement that rewards the work that has been 
done for years by the entire European insect industry gathered under the IPIFF 
umbrella. We hope that this positive assessment will be the first of many" 
explains Antoine Hubert, CEO of Ynsect.

About Ynsect

Ynsect is the world leader in natural insect protein and fertilizer production. 
Founded in 2011 in Paris,  the Next40 company transforms insects into premium 
ingredients for pets, fish and plants. From its state of the art farms, Ynsect 
uses pioneering proprietary technology protected by 260 patents in the world to 
produce Molitor mealworm in vertical farms.www.ynsect.com 

[1] The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) (https://www.efsa.europa.eu/ ) ) 
is the agency of the European Union providing independent scientific advice on 
existing and emerging risks associated with the food chain, to help protect 
consumers, animals and the environment from food-related risks. 

[2] International Platform of Insects for Food and Feed (IPIFF) (Promoting 
Insects for Human Consumption & Animal Feed – IPIFF ), the European umbrella 
organisation representing stakeholders active in the production of insects for 
food and feed 

SOURCE  Ynsect