Portuguese scientists develop method to ensure the authenticity of insect-based feeds

A team of researchers from the Interdisciplinary Center for Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR) has developed an innovative method to guarantee the authenticity of insect-based feed and food, ensuring quality and safety in the food chain. This study was published in the Journal of Food Composition and Analysis. It was developed as part of the Pep4Fish project, which explores innovative nutritional solutions for aquaculture sea bass and sea bream diets based on food by-products.

With the growing demand for alternative protein sources, such as insects, the risk of fraud and mislabeling has increased, raising concerns about food safety. To address this challenge, the researchers created a real-time PCR test that accurately identifies two insect species widely used in food production: the mealworm and the black soldier fly.

The new method stands out for its sensitivity, being able to detect very low levels of DNA from these species, even in processed and complex products such as aquaculture feed or protein hydrolysates (proteins partially digested into small fragments (peptides), making them easier for organisms to absorb). The test can identify inclusions of just 0.24% of these species in the products analyzed, guaranteeing authenticity even in processed formulations.

This advance is especially relevant for the feed and food industry since the European Union has been promoting the use of insects as a sustainable source of protein, both for human consumption and animal feed. However, the lack of reliable tools to verify the composition of these products has been a barrier to wider adoption.

Along with guaranteeing transparency and quality, the new method also represents an important step towards sustainability, as it allows ingredients from authorized sources to be certified, which is in line with the principles of the circular economy and the blue bioeconomy model.

According to the researchers, this authentication protocol not only protects consumers and producers but also strengthens trust in the value chain of innovative insect-based foods, contributing to more sustainable and safer aquaculture.

This work is part of the Pep4Fish project, developed under the Blue Bioeconomy Pact and funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR). The project focuses on exploring innovative nutritional solutions using animal by-products such as fish, poultry, and pigs, as well as alternative resources such as insects. The aim is to develop innovative diets for sea bass and sea bream that simultaneously promote fish health and nutritional quality for human consumption, helping to reduce food waste.

The study, published in the prestigious Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, a high-impact scientific journal in the field of food science, is signed by Andreia Filipa-Silva, Thaise Martins, Maria J. Mota, André Almeida, Daniel Murta, Luísa M.P. Valente and Sónia Gomes.

Led by the ETSA Group, the Pep4Fish project involves nine partners, including research centers and companies: AgroGrIN Tech, B2E – CoLAB para a Bioeconomia Azul (B2E CoLAB), CIIMAR, ITS – Indústria Transformadora de Subprodutos (ETSA); Seaculture (Jerónimo Martins), Savinor and Sorgal (Soja Portugal), Sebol (ETSA) and the Escola Superior de Biotecnologia da Universidade Católica Portuguesa.