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Food Allergen Carryover Within the Edible Insect Supply Chain: A Pilot Plant Investigation
Clara Tramuta1,2, Carla Ferraris1,2, Samantha Lupi1,2
1Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, 10154 Turin, Italy.
Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
|May 13, 2026
Summary
Edible insects can carry food allergens like soy, celery, and almond from their feed into the final product. A fasting period did not fully eliminate these allergens, posing risks for allergic consumers.
Area of Science:
- Food Science
- Allergen Management
- Entomology
Background:
- Edible insects are a growing alternative protein source.
- Potential allergen transfer from insect feed to consumers is a concern.
- Consumer protection requires understanding allergen risks in insect farming.
Purpose of the Study:
- Assess allergen carryover from feed to edible insects (Hermetia illucens).
- Evaluate pre-harvest fasting's effectiveness in reducing allergen residues.
- Inform safety protocols for insect-based foods.
Main Methods:
- Larvae reared on substrates with peanut, almond, soy, celery, and gluten.
- Allergen detection using real-time PCR and ELISA.
- Larvae sampled post-feeding and after 24h and 48h fasting periods.
Main Results:
- Allergens (soy, celery, almond) detected in larvae post-feeding and during fasting.
- Soy confirmed by both PCR and ELISA.
- Fasting period showed limited effectiveness in allergen removal.
Conclusions:
- Edible insects can accumulate allergens from their rearing substrate.
- Allergen presence poses a risk to individuals with food allergies.
- Further research and strict controls are needed for safe insect consumption.
