With the surge in consumption of insects, the search continues to find ways to increase the popularity of insect‐based products in the Western world. The black soldier fly larvae (BSFL), which is mainly utilized for animal feed, has great potential to provide a sustainable source of nutrients for human food. This review aims to discuss some of the key benefits and challenges of BSFL and their potential role as a food ingredient and/or product for human consumption. Few articles specifically discuss BSFL as a food source, therefore a comprehensive literature search strategy consisted of collecting and evaluating published data about BSFL as animal feed that could be relevant to its use in food. The hurdles that need to be overcome in order to introduce BSFL as a viable food option include safety concerns, technofunctional properties, nutritional aspects, consumer attitudes, and product applications for BSFL.

Over the course of the last few years, the consumption of insects, known as entomophagy, has sparked increasing interest amongst scientists and environmentalists as a potential solution to the inevitable global food security and sustainability issues humans will be facing in the coming years. Despite the fact that insects have been an integral part of over 2 billion people's diet worldwide, the concept of eating insects is still new to Western culture. As a result, there are many unknowns regarding insects as a food source, and this has led to a number of studies and investigations being done in recent years to create more knowledge and awareness around this new concept in the food industry. This review discusses some of the key topics and new developments published over recent years, such as the nutritional benefits, food safety concerns, functional properties, potential product concepts and the current ideas and attitudes towards insects as a food source in Western culture. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae (BSFL) are a promising, sustainable source of nutrients, however, there is limited knowledge regarding the food safety of consuming BSFL. This study determined the safety of consuming BSFL for direct human consumption in terms of microbial, heavy metal and allergen content. Microbial counts were determined using ISO (International Organization for Standardization) methods, heavy metals were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and allergens were determined via Orbitrap mass spectrometry and ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) kits. Feed and killing method influenced the presence of Bacillus cereus (p = 0.011), and only the killing method influenced Escherichia coli (p < 0.00) and total viable count (TVC) (p < 0.00). Blanching resulted in a 3-log reduction in E. coli and a 3.4 log reduction in the TVC counts. Salmonella spp. and Listeria spp. were not detected in the BSFL samples. Heavy metals were detected although they were below maximum legal limits. Cross-reactive allergens, tropomyosin and arginine kinase, were detected in the BSFL samples, although the clinical significance requires research. The feed fed to the BSFL and blanching were found to influence the safety of consuming BSFL, highlighting the importance of incorporating sufficient decontamination steps, such as blanching, to ensure food safety.

Western consumers are becoming more aware of the environmental impact of consuming meat, which has led to an increase in research into protein alternatives with specific interest in insects as a viable option. To determine whether insects could be used in an emulsified sausage application, 4 different treatments were investigated to obtain a Vienna-style sausage made from black soldier fly larvae (BSFL). Treatments consisted of a commercially formulated pork Vienna (control) and 3 BSFL treatments with varying concentrations of BSFL (28, 31, and 34%). Proximate composition, and texture profile analysis on d 1 and d 14 (refrigerated storage) were determined. The pork treatment was higher (P < 0.001) in protein and moisture than all of the BSFL treatments, however, there was no difference between treatments with regard to fat or ash content. Texture profile analysis indicated that the treatments had no effect on perceived hardness and cohesion on d 1. With regard to gumminess and springiness, the pork Vienna sausage had the highest (P < 0.001) gumminess values. After 14 d of refrigerated storage the pork treatment retained its hardness, however, there was a decrease (P < 0.001) in the hardness of all of the BSFL treatments. Cohesion values differed between treatments on d 14 (P < 0.001), but both the 34% and 31% treatments were comparable to the pork treatment. On d 1 there was a difference in springiness between the 34% treatment and 28% treatment (P < 0.05), and only the control and 28% treatment retained its springiness at d 14. This study establishes that although BSFL Vienna-style sausages differ from pork Vienna sausages in terms of nutritional composition and perceived texture, out of the 3 BSFL treatments, the 28% BSFL treatment was most comparable to the pork treatment in terms of protein content, ash content, perceived hardness, cohesion, and gumminess, thereby showing the potential of BSFL for partial use in emulsified meat products.

Quality, nutritional and techno-functional properties of whole black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) were investigated to determine its potential as a food ingredient. The effect of age, feed and killing method (blanching or frozen) on these characteristics were determined; all three factors influenced the characteristics investigated. The BSFL were freeze dried and milled into a powder and analysed for physical (larvae size, pH, colour, proximate composition) and techno-functional properties (water absorption capacity, lipid absorption capacity, emulsifying activity, emulsifying stability, and gel formation). Older larvae were found to have a higher ash, fat, and chitin content, whilst having lower moisture and protein contents than the younger larvae (P<0.05). The pH of the BSFL ranged from 6.79 (frozen) to 8.94 (blanched), with blanching causing a lighter coloured BSFL than freezing. The water absorption capacity of the BSFL ranged from 56.27 to 80.77% and the lipid absorption capacity ranged from 50.83 to 68.62%, both of which are lower than that of other insect species. Five-day aged frozen larvae could form a gel at 5% inclusion, whilst blanching had a negative effect on gel formation and required an inclusion of 30% BSFL to form a gel. Emulsion capacity (EC) (43%) and stability (ES) (32%) compared well to other insect species; however, blanching had a negative effect on these properties, reducing both EC (10%) and ES (5%). Overall, the results indicate that freezing is the preferred killing method for ingredient functionality and these findings demonstrate some promising potential for BSFL as a functional ingredient.