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Are you hungry for mealworms, house crickets, or grasshoppers? When certain insects can now be sold as food in Sweden, you have the opportunity to discover new taste experiences. But the advice from the National Food Administration is that allergy sufferers especially should be careful.
Insect foods that are now allowed in Sweden were previously sold in Denmark, the Netherlands and Finland. This is because those countries have interpreted previous EU legislation on so-called novel foods in a different way than Sweden and most EU countries.
Sweden has interpreted this to mean that novel foods, such as insects, cannot be sold without the European Commission first assessing that the food does not pose a health risk.
Not approved
The Court of Justice of the European Communities has now concluded that whole insects were not affected by the previous legislation. This means that during a transition period the sale of whole insects will be allowed in all EU countries.
– We think it is good that the interpretation has been clarified so that there are the same rules throughout the EU, says Astrid Walles Granberg, adviser to the National Food Administration.
But the National Food Administration states that insects can contain bacteria, heavy metals, and other toxic substances that cause illness.
– We must remember that these foods have not yet been evaluated as safe by the European Commission, but are pending approval. Therefore, it is important that companies take responsibility for ensuring that consumers get safe food that is not harmful to health in any way, says Astrid Walles Granberg.
Corporate responsability
It is the responsibility of companies to check that food is safe and has been processed in a hygienic way so that, for example, infections do not occur.
– Companies must take responsibility for this control. The consumer should not be afraid to consume food. But a pretty big risk with insects is that there can be cross-allergies, especially in people allergic to shellfish, so it is important that it is clear on the label if it contains insects, says Astrid Walles Granberg.
Facts: Insects for Food
Different types of insects and the products made from them are examples of new foods. Within the EU, they have not been consumed long enough for us to know that it is harmless.
This means that although insects can be good food, the European Commission must assess and approve the risk of insect species before they can be sold.
What must be assessed is that a certain species of insect does not contain natural toxins or is manufactured in a way that allows it to contain infections or toxins. It is also not uncommon for insect species, especially mealworms and crickets, to cause allergies and cross-allergies, especially in people allergic to shellfish.
Before January 1, 2018, there was other legislation on novel foods, in which it was not clear whether whole and ground insects were included. Most EU countries, including Sweden, interpreted the legislation to mean that whole insects must also be approved by the European Commission before sale. Some countries such as Finland, Denmark and the Netherlands have interpreted the legislation differently and allowed sales.
The matter was taken to the Court of Justice of the European Communities, and on October 1, 2020, they concluded that whole and ground insects were not affected by the old legislation. This means that during a transition period the sale of whole insects will be allowed in all EU countries.
Source: National Food Administration
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