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.
