Insect flours, four decrees signed: “Ad hoc labels and shelves in shops”

«Today we are issuing the decrees on insect flours which concern the authorization levels that Europe has given on flours deriving from insects, I am not discussing the fact that we can eat what is most suitable for our diet, but clear indications must be , the synthetic foods that question the relationship between man and nature are another thing». This is what Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida said at a press conference, reporting that the decrees were signed today and notified to the European Commission together with Enterprise Ministers Adolfo Urso and Health Ministers Orazio Schillaci.

The signing follows the agreements reached yesterday in the State-Regions Conference on four different draft decrees on the mandatory indications for the placing on the market of foods containing four insect flours: cricket flour, Alphitobius diaperinus flour (larvae), Tenebrio molitor flour ( moths) and migratory locust flour. The draft decrees are all from the Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry, Francesco Lollobrigida in concert with the Minister of Business and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso.

In giving a favorable opinion, the regions recommend envisaging the full involvement of the Ministry of Health in the decrees being issued and placing the products on dedicated shelves, indications that have been implemented by the government. “What the decrees provide for is a label with the origin of the product, the risks associated with consumption and the quantity of insect meal present, but we have also provided special shelves where they can be displayed inside the shops”, so that ” those who want to choose crickets, larvae and locusts can go there and those who don’t want to, as I imagine most Italians, can keep away,” said Lollobrigida.