Is it true that the law entered into force a law that allows you to add powder from flour worms in the European Union?

In February 2025, reports of new European law spread on social networks, which allows manufacturers to add powder made of Khrushchak larvae to products. We decided to check if this is really so.

On February 12, the law of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Vyacheslav Volodin said in his Telegram channel the law on the European Union. “In bread, cheese, jam and pasta, you can now add a gaped insect. As arguments in favor of such a solution, European politicians say that the addition of worms is an alternative source of protein, ”the State Duma speaker wrote. Volodin also stated: “In fact, [this law] is a consequence of the sanctions policy of the West in relation to our country, which has turned into the collapse of the economy for Europe, the closure of production and serious problems in agricultural industry.” At the time of writing this analysis Volodin's post Sicked 1.3 million views.

Other Telegram channels wrote about this earlier. February 4 Channel Zergulio (122,000 views) said that from February 10, the European Commission has expanding the list of insects allowed for eating. Following this, other channels wrote about the “voluntary” use by Europeans to the food of insects, including “Solovyov"(268 000),"Bocharik (yeah, the same)"(223,000),"Uncle Glory"(187 000),"Putin in Telegram"(183 000),"Heaven is"(128 000) and"KB. Economy"(149 000).

January 20, 2025 in the "Official Journal of the European Union" was published A document in which flour worms are really mentioned. In it, the European Commission decides to allow the sale of the powder treated with ultraviolet, Tenebrio Molator (yellow flour worm) as a food product.

This technique - the processing of powder from the larvae - registered the company Nutri'earthwhich specializes in production vitamin D3 (he is also cholecalciferol), contributing to the absorption of calcium and phosphorus in the body. The application was submitted back in 2019, then, as follows from the document, the European Food Safety Agency conducted an examination of powder and the methodology itself. As a result, the authors of the application received a positive assessment.

According to the European Commission, Nutri’Earth has the right to use the Tenebrio Molator powder processed with ultraviolet radiation in bread and buns, cakes, pasta, processed potato products, cheese and cheese products, as well as fruit and vegetable compotes. The conditions for mandatory marking are also defined. Firstly, it will be necessary to indicate on the products that the product contains vitamin D obtained by ultraviolet treatment. Secondly, the company will have to inform customers that the product contains powder from larvae-this is necessary for those who have food allergies to animal protein or crustaceans. The final part of the document indicates that the powder treated with ultraviolette obtained from the whole larvae Tenebrio Molator should be included in the list of new EU food products.

In general, the posts in Telegram channels correspond to reality, but in them-and especially in Volodin’s statement-there are significant inaccuracies.

Firstly, there is nothing new in the use of flour worms in food. The European Commission on June 1, 2021 allowed Use drunk Tenebrio Molitor's dried larvae as a food product. The document dated January 20, 2025 is about the same flour worms, but treated with ultraviolet light. 

Secondly, the document does not say about the widespread or voluntary and compulsory introduction of a new food product. The French company specializing in dietary supplements has a monopoly on its production.

Thirdly, Volodin’s words about the introduction of the EU additives from insects as the inevitable consequences of the sanctions policy of the West against Russia look anachronism. Flour worms were allowed to use as a food product before 2022 and the introduction of most sanctions currently acting against Russia.

In addition, products containing insects are used in Russia. In the fall of 2022, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Denis Manturov at the Innofood exhibition Praised manufacturers of burgers with a cutlet consisting of plant proteins with the addition of concentrate larvae of flies of black lion's flies, and said that Russia is keeping up with the times.

October 10, 2023 Order of the Government of the Russian Federation On the list of agricultural products at once, several positions, among which were flour from a flies of black lion's and cooled mashed potatoes from the larvae of the same fly. In the same year, Russian media Reportedthat in Russia the production of flour made of crickets is established.

Thus, the European Commission really approved the use of powder from flour worms. However, we are talking about a specific method of processing the powder, and the use of insects themselves in food in the European Union was allowed a few years ago. In addition, this has nothing to do with the sanctions against Russia, contrary to the statements of the State Duma speaker.

Photo on the cover: Wikimedia Commons / Pengo

Half truth

What do our verdicts mean?