POLITICS

Larvae, crickets, locusts, pigs. At the table, everyone is free to eat what they want. But first clear terms. Meloni’s government intervenes on the “novel food”, the new food frontier registered in the EU that foresees the arrival on the counters of the supermarkets of insects and derivatives (including Italian ones).

Sic dixit EU: it is mandatory to adapt. But with bets. To plant them Francesco Lollobrigida, Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty. Four decrees to regulate the use and sale of flour from the respective insects at the center of EU regulations.

STAKES ON THE TABLE

Cricket meal, migratory lobster, mealworm and gilla larva. “We think it is useful a labeling that specifies in a timely and visible manner what products are derived from these insects”, announces the minister plenipotentiary of FdI.

Therefore, not only a specific label will be necessary. But inside supermarkets there must be “special shelves where you can see the origin”, says Lollobrigida. “We must strengthen people’s capacity for discernment. We have tried to address the issue following European directives, but the issue is our consumption model.”

In short, insects will land in Italian supermarkets. But there will be no risk of adding them to the cart by mistake. Ad hoc departments will be dedicated to it. Destined, at least this is the government’s bet, with a gauntlet against the dictates of the EU, to remain empty, deserted. But what exactly is in the government decrees?

HERE COME THE LOBSTERS

It comes from the flour and products based on Locusta migratoria. Orthopterous insect of the acridid ​​family from which it may derive a flour for kneading bread, biscuits and the likethe Mandatory from now on to warn with a clearly visible label of possible risks. These include allergic reactions in consumers “with known allergies to shellfish and shellfish products”, but also to molluscs and dust mites. “Visible and not obscured” indications so as not to confuse the customer who ventures into the new “insect department” of the supermarket.

THE FLOURWORMS

Latin name: “Alphitobius diaperinus”. In other words: mealworms. They will also land in supermarkets and (for those who want/dare) on Italian tables. Frozen, dried, powdered or kneaded. A delicacy in many Asian countries. In Italy? We will see. Here too the government sets strict rules. In addition to the allergy alert (similar to those caused by locusts) heavy penalties will apply to those who do not clearly indicate the country of origin on the packaging. And if wormwood powder ends up in supplements, they’ll have an R rating.

MOTHS ON THE TABLE

It is known to infest kitchens and pantries and contaminate flour. Now, I could get into the flour. The flour moth, or “Tenebrio Molitor” if you prefer, is the third insect ready to enter the Italian menu. The family is that of beetles. Dried, it is highly appreciated in the cuisine of China and Southeast Asia. Elsewhere, it is used to feed animals, especially birds.

The decree signed by the Ministries of Agriculture and Health open to the trade of the “yellow larvae” of the flour, to be consumed frozen, dried or powdered.. But with the usual precautions: visible labels, origin and allergies indicated on the packaging.

GRILLS AND DERIVATIVES

Acheta domesticus. Simpler: cricket. Here is the fourth addition to the diet made in Italy. And it is a special case, because, except in Italy, the use of cricket derivatives is widespread in almost the whole world, including Europe. Especially flour, used for snacks, cookies, protein bars. There will be no risk of confusing it on the supermarket shelves. Cricket flour will not be called flour, but “partially defatted Acheta powder”.

the cricket it is a real protein concentrate, remember the manufacturing companies that are now rejoicing with the EU’s green light. While the average percentage of protein in beef ranges from 22 to 26%, in cricket meal it can reach 60%. Environmentalists like the trade in crickets and derivatives, and not much. It takes two cubic meters of land to produce 200 kilos of cricket flour and a whole hectare to make the same amount of beef.