Thread by @hem_day

🇪🇺⚡️The International Platform of Insects for Food and Feed (IPIFF) has paid over 1 million euros to the European Commission (EC) for lobbying to accept regulations allowing the consumption of insects and adding them to food and feed.
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#food #insect #ipiff #schwab

The French company SAS Ÿnsect, which is a member of IPIFF, requested that the European Commission adopt Regulation 2023/58, which allows the market for frozen, dried, and powdery forms of Alphitobius diaperinus (small darkling beetle) as a new food.
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#beetle #davos #wef

The beetle will be added to bread, chocolate desserts, meat products, pasta & more. The news has caused a wave of dissatisfaction, and it was later revealed that the EC has also adopted other regulations allowing for the addition of yellow mealworm, locust & crickets to food.
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From 2016 to 2021, IPIFF allocated over 1 million euros for lobbying, with 150,000 euros in 2016, twice 250,000 euros in 2017 and 2018, and 400,000 euros in 2021.
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The organization also held four high-level meetings with the European Commission, including with the commissioner for health and food safety and the commissioner for environment and fisheries.
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Manufacturers of insects from IPIFF are also members of the Consultative Group on Food Chain, Animals and Plants of the European Commission, which advises the EU on decisions that are in the interest of IPIFF.
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The European Food Safety Authority has issued a scientific opinion that the insect Alphitobius diaperinus is safe to eat in certain concentrations, but not recommended for people under 18.
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The Authority also concluded that consumption of this new food may cause primary sensitization and allergic reactions to the proteins of Alphitobius diaperinus.
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The Authority recommends further research on the allergenicity of Alphitobius diaperinus larvae, despite the fact that these additional studies have not yet been done, the insect is already on the market for consumption under the latest EU regulation.
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