Mealworms authorised in Europe: Novel Food, EFSA and key dates

Mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) have been officially authorised for human consumption across the entire European Union since 1 June 2021, through Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/882. This decision followed the favourable scientific opinion issued by the EFSA on 13 January 2021, which concluded that dried mealworms are safe for human consumption under the proposed conditions of use.

Tenebrio molitor thereby became the very first insect ever authorised in Europe under the Novel Food procedure since it came into force in 2018. The authorisation covers two forms: whole dried insect and powder obtained from those dried insects.

The Novel Food framework: from legal grey zone to authorisation

The European regulation on novel foods — Regulation (EU) 2015/2283, known as Novel Food — entered into application on 1 January 2018. It explicitly included whole insects and their parts within its scope, ending a grey area in which several Member States (including France, Belgium and the Netherlands) tolerated the marketing of edible insects.

A transitional clause allowed operators already present on the market before 1 January 2018 to continue selling their products while individual dossiers were being processed. It was under this framework that Jimini’s, active since 2012, was able to keep selling its mealworms and other edible insects during the Novel Food application review period.

EFSA opinion: safety confirmed, allergenic risks identified

Seized in 2018, EFSA issued its scientific opinion on dried yellow mealworm on 13 January 2021. Key conclusions:

• Safety confirmed: dried mealworms are safe under the proposed conditions of use;
• Nutritional value: notable source of protein (around 55% on dry matter), fibre, unsaturated fats, B vitamins and minerals (iron, magnesium, zinc);
• Allergenic risk: EFSA highlights that consumers allergic to crustaceans (shrimp, crab) and to house dust mites may react to mealworm proteins via cross-reactivity. Specific labelling is therefore mandatory.

Which forms and uses are authorised?

Regulation 2021/882 specifically authorises:

• whole dried mealworms, to be eaten as such or incorporated into preparations;
• mealworm powder, intended for use as an ingredient in various food products (protein bars, biscuits, pasta, meat substitutes, etc.).

Foods containing Tenebrio molitor must be explicitly labelled, with a mention of the potential allergen for people sensitive to crustaceans and dust mites.

The authorisations that followed since 2021

Since the mealworm approval, three further insects have received EU green light under Novel Food:

• Migratory locust (Locusta migratoria) — authorised on 15 November 2021 in whole dried, frozen and powder forms (Regulation 2021/1975);
• House cricket (Acheta domesticus) — authorised on 10 February 2022 in whole dried, frozen and powder forms (Regulation 2022/188), and extended to partially defatted powder in January 2023 (Regulation 2023/5);
• Lesser mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus), authorised on 26 January 2023 in frozen, paste, dried and powder forms (Regulation 2023/58).

Further applications remain under review before the European Commission. Each authorisation may also grant a 5-year data exclusivity to the initial applicant upon request — a rule that strongly shapes the European market.

Jimini’s mealworm-based products

We have been offering Tenebrio molitor-based recipes for over a decade, in several formats: whole dried flavoured and seasoned insects, pasta enriched with mealworm powder, granolas and protein-rich snacks. All our products comply with Regulation 2021/882 and are labelled in line with European requirements.

FAQ — Mealworm authorisation in Europe