Preliminary Data on Essential and Non-essential Element Occurrence in Processed Animal Proteins from Insects

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Environmental Science
• Food Science

Background:

• Insects, like the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens), are promoted as sustainable protein alternatives for feed.
• European Union policies, such as the Farm to Fork strategy, encourage the use of animal by-products to improve resource recycling.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the chemical safety and nutritional value of black soldier fly (BSF) for feed production.
• To quantify microessential and inorganic contaminant elements in BSF at various production stages.

Main Methods:

• Samples of substrate, larvae, protein meal, and spent substrate were collected.
• Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to analyze for specific elements.
• Analysis included microessential elements (Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Se, Zn) and inorganic contaminants (Al, As, Cd, Pb, Sn, V).

Main Results:

• Microessential elements were abundant, with iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) being the most prevalent.
• Concentrations of non-essential inorganic contaminants were below European Union regulatory limits.
• BSF meal demonstrated a rich profile of essential elements crucial for animal development.

Conclusions:

• Black soldier fly (BSF) meal is a safe and valuable source of protein and microessential elements for animal feed.
• BSF meal can contribute to meeting the demand for alternative protein sources.
• Future legislation and monitoring may need expansion to ensure ongoing feed and food safety.