In the context of novel foods, a category for which the market demand is increasing worldwide, the consumption of edible insects and related insect-based products is expected to grow in the next years. Insects represent an important source of energy for the human diet but there is a lack of scientific knowledge about their processing to ensure safe food items to the consumer. 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.

Frigerio, J., Agostinetto, G., Sandionigi, A., Mezzasalma, V., Berterame, N., Casiraghi, M., et al. (2020). The hidden ‘plant side’ of insect novel foods: A DNA-based assessment. FOOD RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL, 128(February 2020) [10.1016/j.foodres.2019.108751].

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

Frigerio J.;Agostinetto G.;Sandionigi A.;Mezzasalma V.;Berterame N. M.;Casiraghi M.;Labra M.;Galimberti A.
2020

Abstract

In the context of novel foods, a category for which the market demand is increasing worldwide, the consumption of edible insects and related insect-based products is expected to grow in the next years. Insects represent an important source of energy for the human diet but there is a lack of scientific knowledge about their processing to ensure safe food items to the consumer. 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.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
DNA barcoding; DNA metabarcoding; High throughput sequencing; Insect flour; Plant allergens; Processed food;
English
31-ott-2019
2020
128
February 2020
108751
reserved
Frigerio, J., Agostinetto, G., Sandionigi, A., Mezzasalma, V., Berterame, N., Casiraghi, M., et al. (2020). The hidden ‘plant side’ of insect novel foods: A DNA-based assessment. FOOD RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL, 128(February 2020) [10.1016/j.foodres.2019.108751].
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Frigerio-2020-foodresint-VoR.pdf

Solo gestori archivio

Tipologia di allegato: Publisher’s Version (Version of Record, VoR)
Licenza: Tutti i diritti riservati
Dimensione 1.73 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
1.73 MB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/254133
Citazioni
  • Scopus 11
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 11
Social impact