Abstract

PINO CEBRIAN, Marina. Why we still do not eat insects: legal framework in the European Union. Rev. Bioética y Derecho [online]. 2018, n.42, pp.311-341. ISSN 1886-5887.

Insects are considered unusual food in Europe whereas in other regions of the world are very common. Its consumption is non-existent due mainly to the cultural aversion towards them and the lack of regulations. To clarify what the legal status of insects is, two different situations in selling fried crickets are presented inside a case study: selling in October 2017 and in January 2025. Analysing the first situation it turns out that its merchandising is non-viable due to the legal vacuum in the European and Spanish regulations, whereas in 2025, fried crickets will be considered as a novel food. Despite all, more efforts are needed in order to create other regulations that focus into the expected quality and food safety.

Keywords : European legislation; edible insects; entomophagy; food safety; unfamiliar food; novel food.

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