Overview
The EFSA NDA Panel assessed a spray-dried house cricket powder and could not conclude on its safety because of microbiological quality and mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbon findings. The applicant reported arsenic, cadmium, mercury and lead for five batches (Table 6). The Panel notes the metal values do not exceed EU maximum levels for other foods, that no insect-specific levels exist, and that the proposed lead and cadmium specifications are slightly higher than for other dried insect products.
Key numbers
- Lead 0.049, 0.073, 0.063, 0.056 and 0.066 mg/kg in batches 1 to 5 (Table 6, p. 13).
- Cadmium 0.058 to 0.067 mg/kg; arsenic 0.017 to 0.023 mg/kg; mercury below 0.005 to 0.009 mg/kg (Table 6, p. 13).
- Proposed specifications: lead and cadmium each 0.075 mg/kg or less (p. 14).
Methods (brief)
In-house ICP-MS method; detection limits not stated beyond the ”<” values.
Evidence Fitness
Direct batch data for a cricket powder (tier B: applicant data in a regulatory opinion). Five pilot-scale batches from one producer; not market occurrence data.