Why for feed and not for human consumption? The black soldier fly larvae

Bessa, Leah W.; Pieterse, E.; Marais, J.; Hoffman, Louwrens C.

doi:10.1111/1541-4337.12609

Cited by 83 publications

(69 citation statements)

References 116 publications

(222 reference statements)

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“…A valuable and more sustainable source of protein is represented by insects. They have a high nutritional value [3][4][5] and, compared with traditionally farmed animals, insects have a much higher conversion efficiency and require much less water [2], and their rearing involves much less greenhouse gas emissions [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of the Rearing Substrate on Total Protein and Amino Acid Composition in Black Soldier Fly

Fuso

Barbi

Macavei

et al. 2021

Foods

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Insects are becoming increasingly relevant as protein sources in food and feed. The Black Soldier Fly (BSF) is one of the most utilized, thanks to its ability to live on many leftovers. Vegetable processing industries produce huge amounts of by-products, and it is important to efficiently rear BSF on different substrates to assure an economical advantage in bioconversion and to overcome the seasonality of some leftovers. This work evaluated how different substrates affect the protein and amino acid content of BSF. BSF prepupae reared on different substrates showed total protein content varying between 35% and 49% on dry matter. Significant lower protein contents were detected in BSF grown on fruit by-products, while higher contents were observed when autumnal leftovers were employed. BSF protein content was mainly correlated to fibre and protein content in the diet. Among amino acids, lysine, valine and leucine were most affected by the diet. Essential amino acids satisfied the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) requirements for human nutrition, except for lysine in few cases. BSF could be a flexible tool to bio-convert a wide range of vegetable by-products of different seasonality in a high-quality protein-rich biomass, even if significant differences in the protein fraction were observed according to the rearing substrate.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of the Rearing Substrate on Total Protein and Amino Acid Composition in Black Soldier Fly

Fuso

Barbi

Macavei

et al. 2021

Foods

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“…Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) hold the promise of being a sustainable, nutritious, economically viable food source, however, there are still some challenges that lay ahead before BSFL could be considered a sufficiently safe food source for human consumption [1]. One study has indicated consumers' willingness to consume BSFL in a processed form [2], but the food safety elements of BSFL remain largely unknown, since BSFL have been used almost exclusively for animal feed purposes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In some cases, heating even caused proteins to have more of an allergic reaction [29]. Once again, this information calls for further validation through a wider body of research into BSFL allergens for safe human consumption [1].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Food Safety of Consuming Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Larvae: Microbial, Heavy Metal and Cross-Reactive Allergen Risks

Bessa

Pieterse

Marais

et al. 2021

Foods

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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.

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“…However, evaluation of their utilization in ruminant diets is still limited to date which is related to the potential risk of mad cow disease (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy). The European Union regulations prohibit the use of processed animal protein to feed food-producing animals [ 27 ]. The European Union allows the usage of insect as a feed in aquaculture since July 2017, with a recent approval from the European parliament and Council, and the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed in April 2021 for the usage of insects to feed poultry and pig [ 28 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Insects as Novel Ruminant Feed and a Potential Mitigation Strategy for Methane Emissions

Ahmed

Fukuma

Hanada

et al. 2021

Animals

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This study is the first to evaluate the chemical composition and impacts of four different edible insects, Acheta domesticus (A.d), Brachytrupes portentosus (B.p), Gryllus bimaculatus (G.b), and Bombyx mori (B.m), on the digestibility, rumen fermentation, and methane production when used as a substitute for 25% of the soybean meal (SBM) in a ruminant diet through in vitro incubation. The dietary treatments were 100% grass hay, 60% grass hay + 40% SBM, 60% grass hay + 30% SBM + 10% A.d, 60% grass hay + 30% SBM + 10% B.p, 60% grass hay + 30% SBM + 10% G.b, and 60% grass hay + 30% SBM + 10% B.m. The experiment was conducted as a short-term batch culture for 24 h at 39 °C, and the incubation was repeated in 3 consecutive runs. Chemical analysis of the insects showed that they were rich in fat (14–26%) with a high proportion of unsaturated fatty acids (60–70%). Additionally, the insects were rich in protein (48–61%) containing all essential amino acids and the amino acid profiles of the insects were almost the same as that of SBM. The inclusion of insects did not affect nutrient digestibility or the production of volatile fatty acids but did increase the production of ammonia-nitrogen. The addition of G.b and B.m led to decrease in methane production by up to 18% and 16%, respectively. These results reveal that substitution of 25% SBM in the diet with the tested insects had no negative impacts, and their potential to reduce methane production is an environmental benefit.

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Why for feed and not for human consumption? The black soldier fly larvae

Cited by 83 publications

References 116 publications

Effect of the Rearing Substrate on Total Protein and Amino Acid Composition in Black Soldier Fly

Effect of the Rearing Substrate on Total Protein and Amino Acid Composition in Black Soldier Fly

Food Safety of Consuming Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Larvae: Microbial, Heavy Metal and Cross-Reactive Allergen Risks

Insects as Novel Ruminant Feed and a Potential Mitigation Strategy for Methane Emissions

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