The hidden ‘plant side’ of insect novel foods: a DNA-based assessment

In this study we adopted a combined DNA-based approach to verify the identity of the declared species in five categories of commercial insect-based products (mt COI DNA barcoding) and to characterize plant declared ingredients or contaminants (nu ITS2 DNA metabarcoding) with particular attention to putative elements of allergenic concern belonging, for example to the insect rearing substrate. Moreover, the same approach has been used to assess its sensitivity to cases of contamination and counterfeits to insect flour with low cost (and potentially allergenic) vegetable flours like wheat and soybean. Results show the success of insect DNA barcoding authentication even for highly processed products. Furthermore, the DNA metabarcoding analysis revealed a high efficacy as a screening method to identify both plant ingredients and vegetal traces belonging to insect farming or possible adulteration events, also acting as an early warning strategy for the occurrence of allergens of human concern. This approach could support the development of new risk assessment procedures for novel foods by regulatory authorities to ensure their quality, safety, and acceptance which will become more required in order to face the challenge of feeding the world population in the next decades.Graphical abstract
Source: Food Research International - Category: Food Science Source Type: research