Insects must not simply be secretly mixed into products. However, it is not always clear to customers whether food contains insects.
The house crickets and larvae of the grain mold beetle are now replaced by a new one EU regulation allowed in foodstuffs under certain conditions. The insects may be contained in chocolate, pizza or pasta, among other things – the list of products in which the little animals are allowed is long. But crawling creatures in food are nothing new – in Germany they have been in for decades popular products contain insects. echo24.de explains how customers can tell when shopping whether insects have been mixed into a product.
House crickets and grain mold beetles must be on the ingredient list
If insects are contained in a product in the supermarket, this must be labelled. Because: Apart from the fact that some people may be disgusted at the idea of insects in food, it is also not entirely harmless for certain people. Insects can cause severe allergies and cross-reactions – echo24.de explained, which allergy sufferers are particularly at risk.
If insects are contained in the food product, this must be labeled and stated on the list of ingredients. Allergy information must also be in the immediate vicinity of the list of ingredients. In addition, if products contain insects, they must not be sold as vegan or vegetarian. According to the new EU regulations, at least one of the following must be included in the list of ingredients if house crickets or grain mold beetle larvae have been added:
- “Acheta domesticus (house cricket, house cricket), frozen”
- “Acheta domesticus (house cricket, Heimchen), dried/powdered”
- “Frozen larvae/paste of larvae of Alphitobius diaperinus (grain mold beetle)”
- or “dried larvae/powder from larvae of Alphitobius diaperinus (grain mold beetle)”
Crushed lice in food are not always immediately apparent to customers
The situation is different with products that contain shellac or carmine. Carmine is a red dye made from boiled and crushed scarlet scale insects. Especially with red colored food products, it is worthwhile for customers to take a look at the list of ingredients, such as gummy bears.
However, it doesn’t just say “carmine” – the ingredient is listed rather cryptically. The lice dye carmine has the European approval number “E 120”. Anyone who finds this number among the ingredients is holding a product with insects in their hands.
There is a high probability that almost everyone in Germany has already eaten carmine – because the dye from lice has been approved for use in food since 1959. According to the “Codecheck” comparison portal, carmine is contained in popular products such as “m&m’s “Crisp”, Trolli’s “Sour Glow Worms”, “Müllermilch Kirsch-Banane” and the “Full Fruit” chewing gum from Mentos.
Lice product as a glazing agent on chocolate, coffee and chewing gum – this is how customers recognize shellac
Shellac is a product that also comes from insects. “Ökotest” explains: “Shellac, also called flat lacquer or lacquer resin, is a resin that scale insects secrete. The resin is harvested from the trees, heated, cleaned and shaped before being crushed into shellac for further processing.”
Like carmine, shellac is added to foods to enhance the look. The resin from lice makes products such as chocolate, coffee or chewing gum shine – including the “Children’s Chocolate Bons” from Ferrero. If a product contains shellac, it must also be on the list of ingredients – the official designation is “E 904”.
