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Abstract
Within the European Union (EU), edible insects need to be approved as “Novel Food” according to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 and must comply with the requirements of European food law with regard to microbiological and chemical food safety. Substrates used for feeding insects are susceptible to the growth of Fusarium spp. and consequently to contamination with trichothecene mycotoxins. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the influence of T-2 and HT-2 toxins on the larval life cycle of yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor (L.)) and to study the transfer of T-2, HT-2, T-2 triol and T-2 tetraol in the larvae. In a 4-week feeding study, T. molitor larvae were kept either on naturally (oat flakes moulded with Fusarium sporotrichioides) or artificially contaminated oat flakes, each at two levels (approximately 100 and 250 μg/kg total T-2 and HT-2). Weight gain and survival rates were monitored, and mycotoxins in the feeding substrates, larvae and residues were determined using LC-MS/MS. Larval development varied between the diets and was 44% higher for larvae fed artificially contaminated diets. However, the artificially contaminated diets had a 16% lower survival rate. No trichothecenes were detected in the surviving larvae after harvest, but T-2 and HT-2 were found both in the dead larvae and in the residues of naturally and artificially contaminated diets.
Highlights
The fact that edible insects have been stated to be a potential source to reach the first three United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (FAO 2009) has boosted scientific interest in the farming and processing of such animals and consumer acceptance, nutritional value and safety aspects (Imathiu 2019)
Our data revealed that the intake of type T-2 and HT-2 toxins, at total amounts of approximately 100 and 250 μg/kg, had a significant influence on the weight gain and survival of T. molitor larvae compared with the control groups
The results of Davis and Schieffer (1982) indicated that larval survival was not influenced by the amount of T-2, but the weight gain decreased with increasing levels of the toxin
Summary
The fact that edible insects have been stated to be a potential source to reach the first three United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being) (FAO 2009) has boosted scientific interest in the farming and processing of such animals and consumer acceptance, nutritional value and safety aspects (Imathiu 2019). In Europe, concerns about the safety of insect products are leading to refusal of such products or even disgust (Bednářová et al 2013; Hartmann et al 2015; Yen 2009). To dissipate these concerns and develop safety schemes for farming and processing, various aspects, such as microbiology (Klunder et al 2012), pesticides and heavy metals (Poma et al 2017), have been investigated and addressed in European guidelines (IPIFF 2019)
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