NEW PROTEINS ▶▶▶
Live insect larvae may be fed to chickens, but insect pro- tein in feed is prohibited.
Insects grown on former foodstuffs are safe for use in animal feed
Black soldier fly larvae, house fly larvae, mealworms and small mealworms that are grown on former foodstuffs can be safely used as an ingredient in animal feed.
T 12 BY MARIEKE PLOEGMAKERS
his is the conclusion of a study by the Risk Assessment & Research Office (BuRO) of the Dutch Food and Con- sumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA). The risk as- sessment by BuRO shows that potential risks of in-
sects grown on former foodstuffs can be adequately controlled as animal feed. This means that insects could be allowed as ani- mal feed for more farm animals than just the current legally permitted fish, crustaceans and shellfish (used in aquaculture).
Treatment to reduce the prevalence of germs Former foods consisting only of vegetable components, or animal components derived from dairy, eggs, honey, melted fat, and collagen or gelatin from non-ruminating farm ani- mals can be used safely for breeding insects for consumption by all farm animals, provided that these farmed insects or the products thereof undergo adequate germ-reducing treat- ment, for example heating. BuRO also sees possibilities for breeding insects on former foodstuffs containing animal
▶ ALL ABOUT FEED | Volume 28, No. 2, 2020
components for several types of farm animals, which, accord- ing to current legislation, is not allowed. The precondition for this is that adequate germ-reducing treatment is used and furthermore that the insects are only fed to non-ruminants. What’s more, the insect diet fed to these non-ruminants must not correspond with the non-ruminant species in the food waste on which the insects are grown.
Feed safety BuRO advises the NVWA to ensure that insects used as feed material comply with prevailing microbial safety standards for other animal proteins and that the traceability of the species in former foodstuffs derived from meat from non-ru- minant animals, fish and shellfish is properly secured. BuRO also recommends that developments in the insect sector be properly monitored. The Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Na- ture and Food Quality (LNV) has asked BuRO to investigate the risks involved in using insects in animal feed because the ministry has a desire to change the rules for the use of food waste streams in the context of stimulating circular agricul- ture in animal feed. One of the options is to use former foods as a breeding ground (substrate) for breeding insects. These insects are then used as a protein-rich ingredient in animal feed. BuRO advises the Minister of LNV to use this risk as- sessment as a basis for proposals for further adaptation of European legislation.
PHOTO: KOOS GROENEWOLD
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