Proteinsect has already screened for more than
1,000 chemical risks, and looked at allergenicity,
toxicity and microbiological safety.
Feeding trials using fly-derived protein
have been carried out across the three
regions where the project is
working, in broilers and
layers, salmontilapia and shrimp. Most of the Asian and European
trails have been completed and the results are expected
soon.
In the European studies, the larvae of the common
house fly reared on poultry litter have been
used to produce protein. The benefits of using this
species are that it matures in 8-10 days; because it is
native, it does not need special rearing conditions;
and, should there be an escape, there is no risk of
the introduction of an exotic species into the environment.Given a lack of use, there is no legislative
framework for insect consumption in food or feed.
However, the work being carried out by Proteinsect
should facilitate development of legislation if there
is a commercial market for insect protein.
Yet, even if trials are successful and legislation is
changed to permit commercial production and use
of insect-derived protein, there remains a further
hurdle: consumer perception.