Cytolisa insect – A test for food additives
A test for food additives
Alongside fats and carbohydrates, protein is one of the cornerstones of our diet. The term protein summarizes a large sum of proteins. These consist of amino acids, the most important building blocks of life. One of the main tasks of digestion is to break down proteins in order to extract the essential amino acids and supply them to the body.
Cytolisa insect
Test scope:
Migratory locust is called Locusta migratoria
Mealworm is the larva of the flour beetle Tenebrio molitor
Cricket is called Achaeta domesticus
Grain weevils Alphitobius diaperinus also eat the larvae
Honeydew is the excretion of the spruce bark louse Cinara
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Interestingly, of the 6800 mammal species, around 11000 bird species and 33000 fish species, only a handful play a role in the human diet. By contrast, invertebrate insects are much more numerous, with over a million species, and there have always been considerations to use this group of animals as a source of protein.
Insects or insect products have played a role in the human diet since time immemorial. Recently, the direct consumption of insects or their larvae has been the subject of increasing discussion. The migratory locust is already mentioned as a food in the Bible. Dried grasshoppers, crickets, buffalo worms and mealworms are now available on the market, along with sophisticated recipes for their preparation. Ground mealworms are offered as a substitute for minced meat and grasshoppers are used to decorate desserts.
The meat of insects – just like the meat of other animals – is very rich in protein. The best source of protein is crickets with almost 70 grams of protein per 100 grams. Mealworms have approx. 45 % protein. The fat content of the small creepy-crawlies is also quite high. Grasshoppers, for example, have around 38 grams of fat per 100 grams. The ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids is very balanced: Insects contain high levels of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. This makes the consideration of using edible insects a valuable alternative to meat.
In adult insects such as crickets or grasshoppers, a large part of the body mass consists of chitin, the second most common biomolecule after cellulose. Chitin is very stable and completely insoluble. It is able to bind proteins and lipids hydrophobically.
It is clear that protein from insects is built completely differently than protein from mammals or fish, and that our enteric immune system could recognize these proteins as potentially harmful. This is the basis for food allergies, which have recently been increasing at an alarming rate and which are currently being given a new facet by food insects.
Type 3 food allergies are relatively difficult to diagnose. The Cyto laboratory has developed a series of screening tests that can detect antibodies against these antigenic proteins in patient serum using a semi-quatitative immuno-enzymatic method. For this purpose, various insect antigens were immobilized on a carrier plate. These plates are then treated with the serum sample and a secondary, enzyme-labeled antibody (anti-human IgG) binds any bound serum antibodies. A simple staining reaction can then be used to visualize bound antibodies.
An elimination diet is usually the therapeutic measure of choice.
The following insect antigens are examined in our test:
- Mealworm: This is the larva of the flour beetle (Tenebrio molitor).
Dried or fresh mealworms have been available as pet food for some time. They can now also be found in supermarkets. Ground mealworms are made into batter and served as fried meatballs, for example.
- Grain weevil: The buffalo worm is the larva of the grain weevil (Alphitobius diaperinus). This is also originally a pest that is used in a similar way to the mealworm.
- Cricket: (Acheta domesticus) now also available in grocery stores. Here the adult animals are roasted or used as decoration.
- Grasshopper: (Locusta migratoria), an edible insect already mentioned in the Bible.
- Honeydew: is the excretion of the spruce bark louse Cinara