A systematic review of the nutrient composition, microbiological and toxicological profile of Acheta domesticus (house cricket)

Acheta domesticus is an insect offering several nutritional and technological opportunities for the food industry. After a positive safety assessment as novel foods by the European Food Safety Authority, whole A. domesticus ingredients aspire to gain their share on consumers’ plates. Through a systematic literature review, we describe the nutrient, microbiological, and toxicological profiles of undried and dried forms of A. domesticus. Both dried and undried forms contain a vast array of macro and micronutrients, with protein and minerals reported in considerable amounts in the dried forms. A heating step is the minimum requirement to meliorate the microbiological safety and stability of both forms. The toxicological profile of A. domesticus does not raise safety concerns per se, with the concentrations of contaminants in A. domesticus forms dependent on the contaminants’ level in the insects’ feed. Considerations of how to produce harmonized and robust compositional data on edible insects are discussed.