scholarly journals Food Safety of Consuming Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Larvae: Microbial, Heavy Metal and Cross-Reactive Allergen Risks

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1934
Author(s):  
Leah W. Bessa ◽  
Elsje Pieterse ◽  
Jeannine Marais ◽  
Karim Dhanani ◽  
Louwrens C. Hoffman

Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae (BSFL) are a promising, sustainable source of nutrients, however, there is limited knowledge regarding the food safety of consuming BSFL. This study determined the safety of consuming BSFL for direct human consumption in terms of microbial, heavy metal and allergen content. Microbial counts were determined using ISO (International Organization for Standardization) methods, heavy metals were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and allergens were determined via Orbitrap mass spectrometry and ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) kits. Feed and killing method influenced the presence of Bacillus cereus (p = 0.011), and only the killing method influenced Escherichia coli (p < 0.00) and total viable count (TVC) (p < 0.00). Blanching resulted in a 3-log reduction in E. coli and a 3.4 log reduction in the TVC counts. Salmonella spp. and Listeria spp. were not detected in the BSFL samples. Heavy metals were detected although they were below maximum legal limits. Cross-reactive allergens, tropomyosin and arginine kinase, were detected in the BSFL samples, although the clinical significance requires research. The feed fed to the BSFL and blanching were found to influence the safety of consuming BSFL, highlighting the importance of incorporating sufficient decontamination steps, such as blanching, to ensure food safety.

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 261-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Diener ◽  
C. Zurbrügg ◽  
K. Tockner

In developing countries, effective waste management strategies are constrained by high collection costs and lack of adequate treatment and disposal options. The organic fraction in particular, which accounts for more than 50% of the waste production, constitutes a great, yet mostly neglected, reuse potential. Concomitantly, the demand for alternative protein sources by the livestock feed industry is sharply increasing. A technology that effectively transforms organic waste into valuable feed is therefore a timely option. Larvae of the non-pest black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens L. (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), may be used to reduce the mass of organic waste significantly. Concurrently, larval feeding converts organic waste into prepupae (last larval stage) which is high in protein. In combination with a viable market, this potential animal feed may cover the waste collection costs and thus promote innovative, small-scale entrepreneurs to establish a profitable business niche. Organic waste, however, often contains persistent pollutants, such as heavy metals, that may accumulate in the larvae and prepupae of black soldier flies and consequently in the food chain. In this study, we fed black soldier fly larvae chicken feed spiked with heavy metals (cadmium, lead and zinc at three concentrations each) to examine the extent of metal accumulation in the different life stages and the effect of heavy metal concentration in the feed on the life cycle determinants of the flies. The cadmium accumulation factor in prepupae (metal concentration in the body divided by metal concentration in the food) ranged between 2.32 and 2.94; however, the lead concentration remained well below its initial concentration in the feed. The bioaccumulation factor of zinc in prepupae decreased with increasing zinc concentration in the feed (from 0.97 to 0.39). None of the three heavy metal elements had significant effects on the life cycle determinants (prepupal weight, development time, sex ratio).


2017 ◽  
Vol 98 (6) ◽  
pp. 2176-2183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Biancarosa ◽  
Nina S Liland ◽  
Daan Biemans ◽  
Pedro Araujo ◽  
Christian G Bruckner ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Agustina Onyebuchi Ijeomah ◽  
Rebecca Ngoholve Vesuwe ◽  
Bitrus Pam

Vegetables growing in mining areas have become a serious food safety concern because of the high levels of heavy metals always associated with mining. In this study, water used for irrigation, soil, cabbage, green pepper and green beans grown in tin mine areas of Heipang District, Barkin-Ladi LGA of Plateau State were analyzed for lead, cadmium and zinc, using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The concentrations of the heavy metals in water, soil, vegetables were all in the order Pb, >> Cd > Zn. In the vegetables, the order was: Pb → cabbage > green beans > green pepper; Cd → green beans > cabbage > green pepper; Zn → cabbage > green pepper = green beans. The transfer factors for all the metals (heavy metal in plant / heavy metal in soil) ranged from 0.95 to 1.48. There were high levels of Pb and Cd in all the vegetables, which may be attributed to the metals in the water used for irrigation. Whilst the concentration of Zn in all the samples were lower than recommended limits, the levels of Pb and Cd in the water, soil and vegetables were higher than the WHO/FEPA standard recommended limits reported for vegetables. The Cd concentrations of the vegetables also exceeded the tolerance thresholds for animals and human beings and therefore consumption of vegetable from the area would endanger the health of the population.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 8345
Author(s):  
Kieran Magee ◽  
Joe Halstead ◽  
Richard Small ◽  
Iain Young

One third of food produced globally is wasted. Disposal of this waste is costly and is an example of poor resource management in the face of elevated environmental concerns and increasing food demand. Providing this waste as feedstock for black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae (BSFL) has the potential for bio-conversion and valorisation by production of useful feed materials and fertilisers. We raised BSFL under optimal conditions (28 °C and 70% relative humidity) on seven UK pre-consumer food waste-stream materials: fish trimmings, sugar-beet pulp, bakery waste, fruit and vegetable waste, cheese waste, fish feed waste and brewer’s grains and yeast. The nutritional quality of the resulting BSFL meals and frass fertiliser were then analysed. In all cases, the volume of waste was reduced (37–79%) and meals containing high quality protein and lipid sources (44.1 ± 4.57% and 35.4 ± 4.12%, respectively) and frass with an NPK of 4.9-2.6-1.7 were produced. This shows the potential value of BSFL as a bio-convertor for the effective management of food waste.


Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 332
Author(s):  
Hayden Fischer ◽  
Nicholas Romano ◽  
Amit Kumar Sinha

Nutritionally unbalanced organic waste can be converted into potential resources for animal and plant farming by culturing black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae (BSFL) and prepupae (BSFP). BSFL and BSFP are rich sources of protein and lipids, while the leftover excrement called “frass” can be used as an organic fertilizer. Using readily available resources, BSFL were cultured on spent coffee, donut dough or an equal blend for 35 days. Survival, productivity, daily pupation and biochemical composition of BSFL and BSFP were measured along with the nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium values of the frass. Survival was highest in the blend compared (81%) to spent coffee (45%) or dough (24%); however, BSFL and BSFP were significantly longer and heavier from dough. Stage and food significantly influenced the protein, lipid and glycogen content of the BSFL and BSFP, which tended to be higher in the latter. While fatty acids were often significantly higher in BSFL fed spent coffee, the amino acid composition of BSFL was generally higher in dough. Frass from the blend had significantly highest nitrogen content, while potassium and phosphorus were significantly higher and lower from spent coffee, respectively. Although coffee and donut dough were suboptimal substrates for BSFL, a blend of these produced BSFL and frass that were nutritionally comparable to soybean meal and many organic fertilizers, respectively.


1987 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
pp. 51-58
Author(s):  
Horas Hutagalung ◽  
Suwirma Syamsu

Determination of  heavy  metal  content  (Hg, Pb, Cd, Cu, Cr, Zn) in some seafoods collected from  Muara  Angke  Fish  Auction  Place  were carried out during February to July 1979. The results showed  that Zn  content  in seafoods a nalyzed  was always much higher than the other heavy metals. The concentration levels of  the  six  heavy  metals observed were low. It is almost of the same level as the metal concentration of  other  seafoods  observed  in various parts of the world oceans, but still lower  than the maximum standard set  for human  consumption  as  established  by   Tasmania, Australia and  World Health Organization. The  mean  per capita  consumption of  fish  in Jakarta is only  about 165 g  per week, while  the  Provisional Tolerated Weekly Intake for Hg, set by WHO/FAO at 300 ug level, would be attained by consuming 1500 g Rastrelliger sp., or 698 gPenaeus setiferus, or 545 g Sepia sp., and or 1250 g Pecten sp.  Therefore,  at   present the  level of metal content in fishes sold at TPI  Muara  Angke  can be  considered  as  not  dangerous  to human health as long as these quantities are not surpassed.


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