The new method ensures product quality and safety in the food chain.
In an attempt to guarantee food safety and avoid the risk of fraud and incorrect labelling, researchers from the Feed and Seafood Quality group have created a real-time PCR test that accurately identifies two insect species widely used in food production: the mealworm and the black soldier fly. This new method stands out for its sensitivity, being able to detect very low levels of DNA from these species, even in processed and complex products such as aquaculture feed or protein hydrolysates.
The study “DNA-based authentication for insect-based feedstuffs: The case study of Tenebrio molitor and Hermetia illucens” was published in the prestigious Journal of Food Composition and Analysis and developed as part of the Pep4Fish project, which explores innovative nutritional solutions for aquaculture sea bass and sea bream diets based on food by-products.
The breakthrough described in this study is especially relevant for the feed and food industry, since the European Union has been promoting the use of insects as a sustainable source of protein for both human consumption and animal feed. As well as guaranteeing transparency and quality, the new method also represents an important step towards sustainability by making it possible to certify ingredients from authorised sources, in line with the principles of the circular economy and the blue bioeconomy model. According to the researchers, this authentication protocol not only protects consumers and producers, but also strengthens trust in the value chain of innovative insect-based foods, contributing to more sustainable and safer aquaculture.
Pep4Fish is a project funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) under the Blue Bioeconomy Pact.
The breakthrough described in this study is especially relevant for the feed and food industry, since the European Union has been promoting the use of insects as a sustainable source of protein for both human consumption and animal feed. As well as guaranteeing transparency and quality, the new method also represents an important step towards sustainability by making it possible to certify ingredients from authorised sources, in line with the principles of the circular economy and the blue bioeconomy model. According to the researchers, this authentication protocol not only protects consumers and producers, but also strengthens trust in the value chain of innovative insect-based foods, contributing to more sustainable and safer aquaculture.
Pep4Fish is a project funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) under the Blue Bioeconomy Pact.
