A team of Portuguese researchers from the Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR) has developed an innovative method to ensure the authenticity of insect-based feeds and foods, safeguarding quality and safety across the food chain. This study was conducted as part of the Pep4Fish project, which explores innovative nutritional solutions for aquaculture diets for seabass and gilthead seabream, based on food byproducts.
With the growing demand for alternative protein sources, such as insects, the risk of fraud and mislabelling has increased, raising concerns about food safety. To address this challenge, the researchers created a real-time PCR test that accurately identifies two insect species widely used in food production: mealworms and black soldier fly larvae.
The new method stands out for its sensitivity, as it can detect extremely low levels of DNA from these species, even in complex processed products such as aquaculture feeds or protein hydrolysates (partially digested proteins broken into smaller fragments known as peptides, which are easier for organisms to absorb). The test can identify inclusions of just 0.24% of these species in analyzed products, ensuring authenticity even in processed formulations.
This breakthrough is particularly significant for the feed and food industries, as the European Union has been promoting the use of insects as a sustainable source of protein for both human consumption and animal feed. However, the lack of reliable tools to verify the composition of these products has been a barrier to wider adoption.
In addition to ensuring transparency and quality, this new method represents an important step toward sustainability, as it certifies ingredients sourced from authorized origins, aligning with the principles of the circular economy and the blue bioeconomy model.
According to the researchers, this authentication protocol not only protects consumers and producers but also strengthens trust in the value chain of innovative insect-based foods, contributing to a more sustainable and secure aquaculture industry.
This work is part of the Pep4Fish project, developed within the framework of the Blue Bioeconomy Pact and funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR). The project focuses on exploring innovative nutritional solutions using animal byproducts such as fish, poultry, and pork, as well as alternative resources like insects. The goal is to develop novel diets for seabass and gilthead seabream that simultaneously promote fish health and nutritional quality for human consumption while contributing to food waste reduction.
Led by the ETSA Group, the Pep4Fish project involves nine partners, including research centers and companies: AgroGrIN Tech, B2E – CoLAB for the Blue Bioeconomy (B2E CoLAB), CIIMAR, ITS – Indústria Transformadora de Subprodutos (ETSA), Seaculture (Jerónimo Martins), Savinor and Sorgal (Soja Portugal), Sebol (ETSA), and the School of Biotechnology at the Catholic University of Portugal.
Reference:
Andreia Filipa-Silva, Thaise Martins, Maria J. Mota, André Almeida, Daniel Murta, Luísa M.P. Valente, Sónia Gomes. DNA-based authentication for insect-based feedstuffs: The case study of Tenebrio molitor and Hermetia illucens. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, Volume 140, 2025, 107175, ISSN 0889-1575, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2024.107175
