Regulatory and Legislative Implications of the Use of Insects for Human Consumption

The term “novel food”, in several countries worldwide, refers to non-traditional food whose safety for human consumption needs to be assessed before its approval. Legislation on this topic is quite heterogeneous around the world, and edible insects represent an interesting case study to discuss different approaches. The evolution of food safety policies has been driven by the need to address the increasing demands of consumers and the growing public health concerns associated with food safety. However, these policies are well-rooted in the socio-cultural context and must meet the food safety requirements deemed necessary. These premises justify the current situation in which edible insects range from being a staple food with a long history of consumption in some countries to a novel food with the need for pre-market approval in others. This chapter delves into the novel food legislation of a number of countries to understand and discuss how food safety, sustainability, and the need for new protein sources have been balanced, highlighting similarities and differences.