Home › Food Safety Guides

Insect-Based Ingredients in Food: A Growing Trend and What It Means for Consumers

Updated April 14, 2026 · 10 min read

Introduction

In recent years, insect-based ingredients have moved from niche novelty to mainstream food production. The European Union approved several insect species for human consumption starting in 2021, and insect-derived proteins are now found in a growing range of food products — from protein bars and pasta to baked goods and snack foods.

While eating insects (entomophagy) has a long cultural history in parts of Asia, Africa, and Latin America, the industrial-scale processing of insects into protein powders, flours, and meal for addition to Western-style processed foods is a relatively new development. Many consumers are unaware that the products they buy may contain insect-derived ingredients.

This guide explains which insects are currently approved, what products may contain them, how to identify insect ingredients on labels, and the health considerations involved.

Approved Insect Species for Human Food

The following insect species have been approved as "novel foods" in the European Union under specific EU regulations:

Insect	Scientific Name	EU Approval	Forms
Yellow mealworm	Tenebrio molitor	June 2021	Dried, powder, frozen
Migratory locust	Locusta migratoria	November 2021	Dried, powder, frozen
House cricket	Acheta domesticus	February 2022	Dried, powder, partially defatted
Lesser mealworm	Alphitobius diaperinus	January 2023	Dried, powder, partially defatted, frozen, paste

Additionally, black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) is widely used in animal feed and pet food within the EU, though it is not yet approved for direct human consumption in most markets.

Common Insect-Derived Ingredients

Insect-derived ingredients appear on product labels under various names. Here are the most common terms to look for:

Direct Ingredient Names

• Cricket powder / Cricket flour — made from dried, ground house crickets
• Mealworm powder — made from dried, ground yellow mealworms
• Locust powder / Locust meal — made from dried, ground migratory locusts
• Insect protein — generic term for any insect-derived protein concentrate
• Insect meal — coarser ground product, often in animal feed

Scientific and Technical Names

• Acheta domesticus — house cricket (most common in food products)
• Tenebrio molitor — yellow mealworm
• Locusta migratoria — migratory locust
• Alphitobius diaperinus — lesser mealworm / buffalo worm
• Partially defatted Acheta domesticus powder — official EU novel food designation

Chinese Names (中文名称)

• 蟋蟀粉 (cricket powder)
• 黄粉虫粉 (mealworm powder)
• 蝗虫粉 (locust powder)
• 昆虫蛋白 (insect protein)
• 昆虫粉 (insect meal/flour)
• 蚕蛹蛋白 (silkworm pupa protein)
• 黑水虻 (black soldier fly)

Where Are Insect Ingredients Found?

Insect-derived ingredients are appearing in a growing range of product categories:

Most Common Product Categories

• Protein bars and energy bars: Cricket protein is a popular additive for its high protein density
• Pasta and noodles: Several European brands make pasta enriched with cricket or mealworm flour
• Bread and baked goods: Insect flour can be added as a protein boost (typically 5-15% of dry ingredients)
• Snack foods and chips: Cricket-based snack brands are growing rapidly in the EU
• Sports nutrition products: Protein shakes and supplements may use insect protein concentrate
• Pet food: Insect-based pet foods are now common in the EU and are beginning to appear in Asia

Common in Animal Feed (Not Direct Human Food)

• Farmed salmon feed: Black soldier fly meal is increasingly used in salmon feed
• Poultry feed: Insect meal replacing soybean meal in some EU farms
• Pig feed: Pilot programs in several EU countries

Labeling Rules and How to Identify Them

EU Labeling Requirements

In the European Union, products containing approved insect ingredients must declare them on the ingredient list. The EU also requires an allergen warning because insect proteins may cause reactions in people allergic to crustaceans, shellfish, mites, or dust mites.

A typical EU label might read:

What's NOT Required

Important gaps in labeling regulations:

• When insects are used in animal feed (not direct ingredients), the final animal product (salmon, chicken, eggs) does NOT need to be labeled
• Products imported from outside the EU may have different labeling standards
• Restaurants and food service are generally subject to less strict labeling than packaged goods

Regulations by Region

Region	Status	Details
European Union	✅ 4 species approved	Novel food regulation; mandatory labeling and allergen warning
United Kingdom	✅ Transitional approval	Follows EU approvals under transitional arrangements
United States	⚠️ FDA Generally Recognized as Safe	Cricket products sold; regulatory framework evolving
Canada	✅ Cricket products permitted	Health Canada has approved cricket powder
China	❌ Not approved as food additive	Traditional silkworm use exists; industrial insect food not regulated
Japan	⚠️ Growing market	Several domestic cricket-based products; regulation developing
South Korea	⚠️ Some approvals	Silkworm and some insect species approved; labeling required
Thailand	✅ Traditional + modern	Long tradition of entomophagy; growing commercial sector

Health and Safety Considerations

Allergen Risk

This is the most significant health concern with insect-based ingredients. Insects are arthropods — the same biological group as crustaceans (shrimp, crab, lobster) and other arthropods (mites, ticks). The key proteins that cause shellfish allergies (like tropomyosin) are also present in insects.

People with the following allergies should exercise caution:

• Shellfish / crustacean allergy
• Dust mite allergy
• Chitin sensitivity

Nutritional Profile

Insect protein is genuinely nutritious — typically 60-75% protein by dry weight, with essential amino acids, iron, zinc, and B vitamins. The sustainability case for insect farming (less water, less land, less greenhouse emissions than traditional livestock) is well-documented.

Consumer Autonomy

Regardless of the nutritional and environmental merits, many consumers want the right to make an informed choice about whether to eat insect-derived ingredients. Cultural, religious, dietary, and personal preferences are all valid reasons for wanting to know what is in your food.

Making Informed Choices

Here is how to stay informed and make choices that align with your preferences:

1. Use PureBasket: Our app scans product barcodes and checks ingredient lists for insect-derived keywords in multiple languages. Download free.
2. Read the full ingredient list: Look for the scientific names listed above (Acheta domesticus, Tenebrio molitor, etc.)
3. Check allergen warnings: EU products containing insect ingredients should have cross-reactivity allergen warnings for crustacean/shellfish allergies
4. Be cautious with "protein-enriched" products: Products marketed as high-protein or "alternative protein" may use insect-derived ingredients
5. Check country of manufacture: Products from EU countries have a higher chance of containing approved insect ingredients