Fate of Escherichia coli artificially inoculated in Tenebrio molitor L. larvae rearing chain for human consumption

Cesaro, Cristiana; Mannozzi, Cinzia; Lepre, Adolfo; Ferrocino, Ilario; Corsi, Lorenzo; Franciosa, Irene; Belleggia, Luca; Milanović, Vesna; Cardinali, Federica; Garofalo, Cristiana; Cocolin, Luca Simone; Aquilanti, Lucia; Ruschioni, Sara; Isidoro, Nunzio; Riolo, Paola; Osimani, Andrea

doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2022.111269

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…Thus, an accurate and reliable identification of the microbiota of edible insects is needed in order to evaluate the possible presence of pathogens or spoilage agents as well as beneficial microbes [7]. As Cesaro et al and Garofalo et al stated, microorganisms in edible insects represent one of the major concerns for public health and can contaminate the external cuticle of an insect as well as its gut through the ingestion of contaminated feed [4,19]. This fact highlights the importance of studies investigating the insects as well as their diet and frass.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tenebrio molitor (Linnaeus, 1758): Microbiological Screening of Feed for a Safe Food Choice

Pöllinger-Zierler,

Lienhard,

Mayer

et al. 2023

Foods

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As a result of the increasing focus on alternative protein sources which are ideally still sustainable, the yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor, has come into focus. To verify its suitability as a food source in relation to human health, an analysis of the microbiome of larvae of T. molitor is pertinent. Subsequently, the focus of this study was, on the one hand, to analyze the influence of the substrate on the microbial load of the larvae microbiome, and, on the other hand, to determine which processing methods ensure the risk-free consumption of mealworms. For this purpose, mealworms were grown on 10 different substrates derived from by-products of food production (malt residual pellets, corn germ meal, chestnut breakage and meal, wheat bran, bread remains, draff, nettle, hemp seed oil cake, oyster mushrooms with coffee grounds, pumpkin seed oil cake) and microbial loads were analyzed using different selective media. Further starvation/defecation and heating (850 W for 10 min) methods were used to investigate how the reduction of microorganisms is enabled by these methods. The results showed that there was no significant relationship between the microbial load of the substrate and the mealworm. Starvation and defecation led to a lower stock of microorganisms. Heating led to a significant microbial reduction in non-defecated mealworms. The group of defecated and heated mealworms showed no detectable microbial load. In conclusion, firstly, the choice of substrate showed no effect on the microbial load of larvae of Tenebrio molitor and secondly, heating and starvation allow risk-free consumption. This study makes an important contribution for evaluating the safety of mealworms as a sustainable protein source in human nutrition.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tenebrio molitor (Linnaeus, 1758): Microbiological Screening of Feed for a Safe Food Choice

Pöllinger-Zierler,

Lienhard,

Mayer

et al. 2023

Foods

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“…Others confirm reduction in Clostridium perfringens or Enterobacteriaceae, but that despite reduction in total bacterial counts, not all endospore forming bacteria were reduced (Van Looveren, Vandeweyer and Van Campenhout 2021). Studies in mealworms suggest that Tenebrio molitor's gut or excreted frass may not be viable environments for the multiplication or the survival of E. coli, perhaps due to microbial interaction with Lactobacillus (Cesaro, Mannozzi et al 2022). More studies on facilitated identification and biological inactivation of potential pathogens in insect farming systems are required to tailor regulatory guidelines.…”

Section: Biological Risksmentioning

confidence: 99%

Opportunities and challenges in upcycling agri-food byproducts to generate insect manure (frass): A literature review

Hénault-Ethier,

Quinche,

Reid

et al. 2024

Waste Management

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Morphotextural, microbiological, and volatile characterization of flatbread containing cricket (Acheta domesticus) powder and buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) flour

Belleggia

Foligni

Ferrocino

et al. 2023

Eur Food Res Technol

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The growing awareness of the consumers on the advantages of a proper nutrition is deeply modifying their demands. Hence, the exploitation of innovative ingredients to enrich the nutritional values of staple foods is continuously explored by research institutions and food industries. This paper represents a feasibility study on the use of nonconventional ingredients, including house cricket (Acheta domesticus) powder and buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) flour, for the production of novel flatbread formulations. Experimental flatbread prototypes were evaluated by analyzing microbiological, physico-chemical, textural, colorimetric, and volatile parameters. Microbiological viable counts revealed low levels of bacterial spores in the formulations comprising cricket powder. Water activity results showed adequate values, inhibiting the growth of spoilage and pathogenic bacteria, and preventing the germination of bacterial spores. The addition of cricket powder, influenced textural properties of flatbread samples, characterized by lower hardness values respect to those not containing insects seems likely due to a high content of dietary fiber (chitin from insects). As for the color analysis, flatbread samples added with cricket powder evidenced darker tones respect to those not containing insects, thus resulting visibly comparable with whole grain products. Worthy to mention that the addition of buckwheat flours did not cause hardness reduction or color variation of experimental prototypes. The volatile component analysis highlighted numerous compounds associated with enzymatic activities and nonconventional ingredients. Overall, the results collected demonstrated that cricket powder and buckwheat flour possess a great potential to produce innovative flatbreads.

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Fate of Escherichia coli artificially inoculated in Tenebrio molitor L. larvae rearing chain for human consumption

Cited by 5 publications

References 45 publications

Tenebrio molitor (Linnaeus, 1758): Microbiological Screening of Feed for a Safe Food Choice

Tenebrio molitor (Linnaeus, 1758): Microbiological Screening of Feed for a Safe Food Choice

Opportunities and challenges in upcycling agri-food byproducts to generate insect manure (frass): A literature review

Morphotextural, microbiological, and volatile characterization of flatbread containing cricket (Acheta domesticus) powder and buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) flour

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