Europe authorizes the trade of worm flour and advances the 2030 Agenda

The European Commission has approved the use of tenebrio molitor powder (mealworm) treated with ultraviolet light as a food ingredient, a decision that came into effect in February of this year. 

This measure will allow manufacturers to incorporate up to 4% of this protein in products like bread, cheese, and pasta, as part of a broader EU strategy to promote the environmental agenda of the broader Agenda 2030. 

The French company Nutri'Earth has obtained exclusive authorization to market this powder for the next five years, consolidating its leadership in food innovation of this type. 

Ultraviolet-treated mealworm powder, derived from tenebrio Molitor larvae, has been classified as a "novel food" under EU regulations.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) conducted an assessment in 2023 and concluded that UV-treated larva powder is safe for consumption under the proposed conditions and levels of use.

However, these types of proposals by European governments mainly aim to replace animal protein, as it is one of the precepts of the disastrous agenda imposed worldwide. 

Despite the approval, the measure has caused opposition within the European Parliament. MEPs Alexander Bernhuber of the European People's Party (EPP) and Laurence Trochu of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) attempted to block the decision by presenting an objection.

However, the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) rejected this objection with 39 votes against, 32 in favor, and 6 abstentions.

In Italy, politicians like Gian Marco Centinaio, Vice President of the Italian Senate, and Silvia Sardone, MEP of the League party, expressed their disagreement, rightly calling the measure offensive to farmers and the food traditions of their countries. Centinaio stated that the EU was promoting the inclusion of "larvae and other waste on our tables."

The authorization was published in the Official Journal of the European Union, allowing products containing UV-treated worm powder to reach supermarket shelves in EU member states.

This powder will be incorporated into food products intended for general consumption, such as bread, cookies, cakes, cheese, processed potato products, and pasta. Product labeling plays an essential role in providing correct consumer information.

According to regulations, labels must specify that products contain ultraviolet-treated worm larvae and warn about possible allergic reactions, especially for people allergic to shellfish and mites.

The authorization of this new food ingredient aligns with the EU's efforts to promote more "sustainable" protein sources, while attempting to displace traditional and more beneficial nutritional sources, such as meat and vegetables.