Insect death: A danger to our health and nutrition!

Insect death: A danger to our health and nutrition!

The EU recently approved flour beetle larvae powder as a new food ingredient. According to Christoph Scheffknecht, head of the Vorarlberg Environmental Institute, health risks have been “reviewed in the approval process” without any noticeable health risks being identified so far. In a comprehensive investigation two years ago, there were no hygienic defects or harmful substances in 15 samples. However, unauthorized insects were found in some samples and were objected to. Rules require that the German and Latin names of the insects be stated on the products, as well as information about the form of the admixture and possible allergens, such as vorarlberg.orf.at reported.

Insect mortality and its consequences

Insects are not only essential for the environment, but also play a central role in human health. According to a study from Harvard University, the decline in insect populations is having serious consequences worldwide by affecting pollination of crops, resulting in a reduced supply of fruits, vegetables and nuts. This could drive up prices and jeopardize vitamin supplies, increasing the long-term risk of diseases such as heart attacks and diabetes. In this context, Professor Carl Beierkuhnlein notes that the loss of insect species could also encourage the proliferation of pests, which further endangers the food supply apotheken-umschau.de reported.

The alarming figures from the current red lists of the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation show that around 29.7 percent of the insect species assessed in Germany are endangered. Mayflies and stoneflies are particularly affected, with a proportion of 40.5 and 46.4 percent. The causes are diverse: from habitat loss due to soil sealing, to intensive agriculture, to pesticides that attack the nervous system of insects. In order to counteract this threatening development, measures are urgently needed to protect and revitalize insect populations.