'Ggitturami Pasta' Becoming Reality? Italy Grants Approval for Sale of 'Edible Insect Powder'

The Guardian Reports Italy Government Approval for Sale
"Cricket Powder Similar to Pumpkin Seeds, Hazelnuts, and Shrimp"

Italy has officially authorized the sale of 'edible insect powder.'

On the 31st (local time), The Guardian reported that the Italian government has permitted the sale of edible insect powder developed by the edible insect company Nutrinsect within the country.

Snacks made from edible insects. Not directly related to the article. [Image source=Pixabay]

Until now, the Italian government had only allowed the sale and use of insect powder for animal feed. However, early last year, the European Union (EU) announced plans to approve the sale of edible insects such as crickets and grasshoppers, prompting the need for a policy change. Accordingly, the Italian government decided to allow the sale of edible insects under strict regulations and reviews regarding the origin and ingredient labeling.

Welcoming the news of the Italian government permitting the sale of its products, Francesco Chiani, CEO of Nutrinsect, said, "A new page in food history has been opened." He also explained, "Cricket powder has a flavor similar to pumpkin seeds, hazelnuts, and shrimp."

Cricket powder sold by the Italian insect company Nutrinsect [Photo source: Nutrinsect official website capture]

Nutrinsect is reported to breed and process millions of crickets at a factory in Italy. Although people are skeptical about the source of the products due to prejudices against insects, the company states that all products are produced in Italy. Nutrinsect's insect powder can be used in various foods, and the product price is known to be 6 euros (approximately 8,637 won) per bag.

However, within Italy, there have been many concerns about using insect ingredients in traditional foods such as pizza and pasta. Former Minister of Agriculture Francesco Rollobridida reportedly expressed the position that "edible insect ingredients should not be mixed with Italian food."

Meanwhile, insects such as crickets and grasshoppers are gaining attention as 'future food.' They are considered an alternative to overcome the global food crisis because they can be produced in an environmentally friendly way and are rich in nutrients such as protein and vitamins. The Guardian predicted that the European edible insect market will grow to 2.7 billion euros (approximately 3.9 trillion won) by 2030.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.