The Italian government said Thursday
that is has approved four decrees regulating the use of four
different flours derived from insects after the European Union
recently approved their sale for human consumption.
The decrees regard powders made from crickets, migratory
locusts, mealworms and lesser mealworms.
The decrees ban insect flours being used in some foods and
oblige producers to make it very clear on labels when an item
contains them.
"We will watch over the full respect of the measures announced
today with the NAS health police, both regarding the ban on
using insect flours in foods that are typical of the
Mediterranean diet, such as pizza and pasta, and on the
labelling of the products that contain them, which will have to
be visible and clear," said Health Minister Orazio Schillaci
during a news conference.
Furthermore, the decrees will make it necessary for shops
selling products containing insect flours to display them on
separate shelves from other goods.
"In this way, the people who choose to buy crickets, larva and
locusts can go to this area and those who do not can stay away,
as I imagine the majority of the Italian people will do," said
Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida.
Business and Made in Italy Minister Adolfo Urso thanked Italy's
regions for the contribution they made to drafting the decrees
and said the next move will be for the government to notify the
European Commission of them.
"The measures are based on the principle of transparency and the
capacity to make an informed choice of the consumers, who must
know how a product has been made, where it comes from and what
it is made out of in order to be free to use the product or
not," Urso said.
"It is the right road to protect our Mediterranean diet, which
is among the excellence that Made in Italy is famed for around
the world".
Insects are increasingly being seen as a good dietary
alternative because of their abundance, their high-protein and
nutritious properties and the low carbon footprint of
production.
"The decrees are just but I don't understand the clearly
negative tones being used to talk about these flours," Josè
Francesco Cianni, the CEO of Nutrinsect firm that is in this
sector, told ANSA.
"It's right that consumers are informed about what they are
buying and eating and that is valid for any product, whether it
be flour from insects or chick peas or lentils.
"It's also right that there should be corners of shops dedicated
to insect flours, like there is for organic and gluten-free
goods.
"The important thing is that the position of insect flours is
not designed to marginalize or hide the product".
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
