PR87615

PARIS, Jan. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

-  The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) deems mealworms safe for human consumption -

Getting the provisional green light from the EFSA[1] is a major step forward

for the industry. It should pave the way for future approvals, particularly on

human consumption of defatted insect protein, which represents the largest

human food market segment in terms of value and volumes, especially in sports

and health nutrition.

    -- Ynsect has identified these markets as the most promising with

       YnMeal, one of its defatted ingredients.

    -- Ynsect has submitted its Novel Food application (without requesting

       information protection for five years, so that its data can be used

       by all within the European sector) demonstrating an allergen profile

       much lower than using the whole insect.

    -- Ynsect will be filing a GRAS request in the USA in the coming months

       to serve the world's largest market for fitness and sports nutrition.

    -- Ynsect has already signed a commercial contract within these

       markets, demonstrating its leading position in the industry.

On January 13, 2021, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) announced a

favourable safety assessment of mealworms for human food following the work

done by a French IPIFF[2] Food Task Force and its members. The EFSA has

concluded that this product is safe for human consumption, under the procedures

required by the European Union regarding new food legislation (EU Regulation

2015/2283). This favourable assessment will have to be confirmed by the

European Commission's Health Directorate General, which will give the final

authorisation for market approval in the European Union.

The mealworm is the first insect to receive a positive safety evaluation for

human consumption in the world. This is a recognition that mealworm ingredients

are premium products as they are uniquely "food grade" compared to other

insects used only in animal feed.

"This breakthrough is a major achievement that rewards the work that has been

done for years by the entire European insect industry gathered under the IPIFF

umbrella. We hope that this positive assessment will be the first of many"

explains Antoine Hubert, CEO of Ynsect.

About Ynsect

Ynsect is the world leader in natural insect protein and fertilizer production.

Founded in 2011 in Paris,  the Next40 company transforms insects into premium

ingredients for pets, fish and plants. From its state of the art farms, Ynsect

uses pioneering proprietary technology protected by 260 patents in the world to

produce Molitor mealworm in vertical farms.www.ynsect.com

[1] The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) (https://www.efsa.europa.eu/ ) )

is the agency of the European Union providing independent scientific advice on

existing and emerging risks associated with the food chain, to help protect

consumers, animals and the environment from food-related risks.

[2] International Platform of Insects for Food and Feed (IPIFF) (Promoting

Insects for Human Consumption & Animal Feed – IPIFF ), the European umbrella

organisation representing stakeholders active in the production of insects for

food and feed

SOURCE  Ynsect