Can restaurants serve insects? - elEconomista.es

1. elEconomista.es

The hospitality industry is gradually changing. Consumers are increasingly demanding newer and healthier products. However, there is a product for which restaurants and customers show some reluctance: insects. But the real question is whether they can be sold in these Spanish establishments.

Although it may seem strange, entomophagy, the consumption of insects by humans, is widespread in countries in Asia, Latin America and Africa. In fact, about 2 billion people around the world consume this food, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

A bit of a "mixed bag" today. I'm not Polish, but I'm related to enough Polish folks to know how to make Polish "we… https://t.co/XgMJskxih5

— meindiva🐝🛫🚉🚍🚗🌁 Mon Dec 28 03:30:19 +0000 2020

Can I serve insects in my restaurant?

From January 1, 2018, the Regulation of the European Parliament regarding novel foods entered into force. According to this new standard, insects began to be called 'new food' and an evaluation period began to assess the risks derived from their consumption in new societies.

However, the answer is yes. It is legal to consume it in restaurants and bars as long as they are purchased from authorized food supplier companies. This authorization derives from a new standard included in the Regulation: food must have been consumed in at least one third country for at least twenty-five years as part of the regular diet of a significant number of people to be considered consumer products.

More than 1,900 species of insects are consumed around the world and taken from the natural environment. However, suppliers must have authorization to sell these products to other countries.