Challenges related to the application of analytical methods to control insect meals in the context of European legislation

Abstract

Since their approval for use in aquaculture in 2017, processed insect proteins have been extensively studied for their nutritional quality in animal feed. This new type of meal is highly promising but requires, as for other products used in animal feed, strict sanitary control in accordance with European legislation. Within this legal framework, light microscopy and PCR remain the official methods but have some analytical limitations that other methods could overcome. This paper aims to provide an overview of the European legislation concerning use of processed insect proteins, but also to highlight the advantages and disadvantages of the official methods for their analysis. It also points out other analytical methods, which have already proved their worth for the analysis of processed animal proteins, which could be used as complementary methods.

Keywords:

• Insects
• legislation
• feed
• processed animal proteins
• light microscopy
• PCR
• metagenomics
• vibrational spectroscopy
• mass spectrometry
• combination of methods

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.