Dried Tenebrio molitor larva (yellow mealworm): authorised novel food in the EU

Conditions of use and maximum levels

Table 1, column "Conditions under which the novel food may be used", as written:

• Dried Tenebrio molitor larva, whole or in powder
• Protein products: 10 g/100 g
• Biscuits: 10 g/100 g
• Legumes-based dishes: 10 g/100 g
• Pasta-based products: 10 g/100 g

Additional specific labelling requirements

1. The designation of the novel food on the labelling of the foodstuffs containing it shall be ‘Dried Tenebrio molitor larva (yellow mealworm)’. 2. The labelling of the foodstuffs containing dried Tenebrio molitor larva (yellow mealworm) shall bear a statement that this ingredient may cause allergic reactions to consumers with known allergies to crustaceans and products thereof, and to dust mites. This statement shall appear in close proximity to the list of ingredients.

Specification (Table 2)

Table 2 of the Annex, row with the same name, as written:

Description/Definition:

The novel food is the whole, thermally dried yellow mealworm, either whole (blanched, oven-dried larva) or in the form of a powder (blanched, oven-dried, ground larva). The term ‘mealworm’ refers to the larval form of Tenebrio molitor, an insect species that belongs to the family of Tenebrionidae (darkling beetles).

The entire mealworms are meant for human consumption and no parts are removed.

A minimum 24 hours fasting period is required before the thermal drying step, to allow the larvae to discard their bowel content.

Characteristics/Composition:

Ash (% w/w): 3,5 - 4,5

Moisture (% w/w): 1-8

Crude protein (N x 6,25) (% w/w): 56-61

Digestible Carbohydrates (15) (% w/w): 1-6

Fat (% w/w): 25-30

of which saturated (% w/w): 4-9

Peroxide value (Meq O2/kg fat): ≤ 5

Dietary fibre (% w/w): 4-7

Chitin (% w/w): 4-7

Heavy metals:

Lead: ≤ 0,075 mg/kg

Cadmium: ≤ 0,1 mg/kg

Mycotoxins:

Aflatoxins (Sum of B1, B2, G1, G2): ≤ 4 μg/kg

Aflatoxin B1: ≤ 2 μg/kg

Deoxynivalenol: ≤ 200 μg/kg

Ochratoxin A: ≤ 1 μg/kg

Microbiological criteria:

Total aerobic colony count: ≤ 105 CFU (7)/g

Yeasts and moulds: ≤ 100 CFU/g

Escherichia coli: ≤ 50 CFU/g

Salmonella spp.: Not detected in 25 g

Listeria monocytogenes: Not detected in 25 g

Sulfite-reducing Anaerobes: ≤ 30 CFU/g

Bacillus cereus (presumptive): ≤ 100 CFU/g

Enterobacteriaceae (presumptive): < 10 CFU/g

Coagulase-positive staphylococci: ≤ 100 CFU/g

Source and version

Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470, Annex, Union list of novel foods, Table 1. Consolidated text of 10 August 2026. The text above is copied from that document without change except that amendment markers are removed. It is not advice and it does not decide whether a particular product is covered.

• Consolidated text on EUR-Lex

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