Black soldier fly larvae as protein alternative for hungry humans

Date:
October 29, 2020
Source:
University of Queensland
Summary:
Black soldier fly larvae contains more zinc and iron than lean
meat and its calcium content is higher than milk. Less than half
a hectare of black soldier fly larvae can produce more protein
than cattle grazing on around 1200 hectares, or 52 hectares of
soybeans. New research has identified the barriers for introducing
fly protein into Western human diets as a sustainable, healthy
alternative to both meat and plant proteins.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
It may seem a little hard to swallow but the larvae of a waste-eating
fly could become a new alternative protein source for humans, according
to a University of Queensland scientist.


========================================================================== Professor Louw Hoffman said black soldier fly's larvae, which was already utilised for animal feed, was a high quality protein.

"Just like meat, it contains all the nutrients humans need for health," Professor Hoffman said.

"The larvae is richer in zinc and iron than lean meat, and its calcium
content is as high as that of milk." "Their nutritional composition makes
them an interesting contender as a meat alternative, and to date they have demonstrated their potential to partially replace meat in burger patties
and Vienna sausages." Professor Hoffman said the United Nation's Food
and Agriculture Organization estimated that two billion people around
the world already ate insects regularly as part of their diet.



==========================================================================
"The biggest factor that prevents fly proteins being used in our food
supply is Western consumer's' acceptance of insects as food," he said.

"We will eat pea or oat milk, even lab-grown meats, but insects just
aren't on Western menus." Professor Hoffman has been studying the hurdles
that need to be overcome before flies can directly enter the human food
supply chain.

"There's a lot of research that's already been done on black soldier fly
larvae as a feed for livestock, but we need to ensure we address safety
issues before it can get legs as a human food," he said.

"This includes understanding the different nutritional profiles of the
fly at key stages of its growth, and the best ways to process the fly
to preserve its nutritional value.

"While the fly can clean up toxic waste including heavy metals, it's
also recommended flies bred for human food be fed a clean source of
organic waste." In addition to its nutrition profile, Professor Hoffman
said there were strong environmental reasons for humans to eat fly larvae.

It's estimated that less than half a hectare of black soldier fly larvae
can produce more protein than cattle grazing on around 1200 hectares of
cattle, or 52 hectares of soybeans.

"If you care about the environment, then you should consider and be
willing to eat insect protein," he said.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Queensland. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Leah W. Bessa, Elsje Pieterse, Jeannine Marais, Louwrens
C. Hoffman. Why
for feed and not for human consumption? The black soldier fly
larvae.

Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, 2020; 19
(5): 2747 DOI: 10.1111/1541-4337.12609 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201029104951.htm

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