Chemical food safety hazards of insects reared for food and feed

Insects are a promising future source of sustainable proteins within circular economy. Proving the safety insects for food and feed is necessary prior to supplying them market. This literature review provides state-of-the-art overview chemical hazards reared feed, focusing mainly on transfer contaminants from substrate. Contaminants covered are: heavy metals, dioxins polychlorinated biphenyls, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, pesticides, veterinary drugs, mycotoxins, plant toxins. The twelve insect species reported as having largest potential in EU included. Transfer bioaccumulation depend chemical, species, life stage, contaminant (spiked vs natural), well particular substrate rearing conditions. metals lead, arsenic, mercury, cadmium can accumulate, whereas mycotoxins polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) seem not accumulate. Mycotoxins drugs could be degraded by insects; their metabolic routes need further investigated. Data generally limited, but PAHs, toxins, dioxin-like biphenyls. Further research different edible therefore warranted.