The EU has approved locusts and mealworm larvae as food. Next up: Crickets?
The European Union has approved locusts for sale as food, The Washington Post reports. Don’t expect to see locust leg lollipops or Wing Wheaties any time soon, though: Those body parts must be removed before sale, per the authorization; evidently, they’re a constipation concern. The thumbs-up for locusts follows a similar decision on mealworm larvae earlier this summer, possibly signaling a shift in the region’s approach to insects as food. The approvals arrived on the heels of key endorsements from the European Food Safety Authority, which has also recently backed a third insect. Up next: Cricket compote? —H. Claire Brown
