Fate of Salmonella enterica Typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes in Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Larvae Reared on Two Artificial Diets

Ensuring food security is one of the main challenges facing the world over the next 30 years. There is, thus, an urgent need to significantly increase the supply of sustainable protein that can be transformed into animal feed. Proteins from insects offer a valuable alternative. This article presents the results of challenge tests conducted to investigate the dynamics of the microbial load of Salmonella enterica Typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes in black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae grown on contaminated substrates. Four separate challenge tests were performed on two substrates: the Gainesville diet and a homemade diet. The challenge test procedure was carried out in accordance with ISO/DIS 20976-2 (under development). The results of this study show that, when grown on contaminated substrates, BSF larvae do not eliminate Salmonella Typhimurium or L. monocytogenes, but can reduce their microbial load. Sanitation processes downstream of the breeding of BSF larvae are, however, required to reduce the microbiological risks of this novel food.

[1]  A. Fuso,et al.  Effect of the Rearing Substrate on Total Protein and Amino Acid Composition in Black Soldier Fly , 2021, Foods.

[2]  G. Garcia-Garcia,et al.  Codesign of Food System and Circular Economy Approaches for the Development of Livestock Feeds from Insect Larvae , 2021, Foods.

[3]  L. Hoffman,et al.  Why for feed and not for human consumption? The black soldier fly larvae. , 2020, Comprehensive reviews in food science and food safety.

[4]  Abdelrazeq M. Shehata,et al.  Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Meal as a Promising Feed Ingredient for Poultry: A Comprehensive Review , 2020, Agriculture.

[5]  F. Madau,et al.  Insect Farming for Feed and Food Production from a Circular Business Model Perspective , 2020, Sustainability.

[6]  D. Oliver,et al.  The microbial safety of seaweed as a feed component for black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae. , 2020, Food microbiology.

[7]  Tae-Kyung Kim,et al.  Edible Insects as a Protein Source: A Review of Public Perception, Processing Technology, and Research Trends , 2019, Food science of animal resources.

[8]  J. Loon,et al.  Conversion of organic resources by black soldier fly larvae: Legislation, efficiency and environmental impact , 2019, Journal of Cleaner Production.

[9]  A. Mathys,et al.  Sustainable use of Hermetia illucens insect biomass for feed and food: Attributional and consequential life cycle assessment , 2019, Resources, Conservation and Recycling.

[10]  S. Diener,et al.  Black Soldier Fly biowaste treatment - Assessment of global warming potential. , 2019, Waste management.

[11]  M. Shelomi,et al.  Review of Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) as Animal Feed and Human Food , 2017, Foods.

[12]  M. Eeckhout,et al.  A survey of the mycobiota associated with larvae of the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) reared for feed production , 2017, PloS one.

[13]  B. Lievens,et al.  Microbial counts of mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor) and crickets (Acheta domesticus and Gryllodes sigillatus) from different rearing companies and different production batches. , 2017, International journal of food microbiology.

[14]  E. Haubruge,et al.  Microbiological Load of Edible Insects Found in Belgium , 2017, Insects.

[15]  L. W. Bessa.  The evaluation of the potential of Tenebrio molitor, Blatta lateralis, Blaptica dubia, Hermetia illucens and Naupheta cinerea for human consumption , 2016 .

[16]  L. Kouřimská,et al.  Nutritional and sensory quality of edible insects , 2016 .

[17]  P. Scarborough,et al.  A systematic review of nutrient composition data available for twelve commercially available edible insects, and comparison with reference values , 2016 .

[18]  J. V. van Loon,et al.  Feed Conversion, Survival and Development, and Composition of Four Insect Species on Diets Composed of Food By-Products , 2015, PloS one.

[19]  A. Kovitvadhi,et al.  Nutritional value of two insect larval meals (Tenebrio molitor and Hermetia illucens) for broiler chickens: Apparent nutrient digestibility, apparent ileal amino acid digestibility and apparent metabolizable energy , 2015 .

[20]  V. Der,et al.  Risk profile related to production and consumption of insects as food and feed , 2015 .

[21]  Soon-Ik Park,et al.  Detection of antimicrobial substances from larvae of the black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) , 2014 .

[22]  B. Vinnerås,et al.  High waste-to-biomass conversion and efficient Salmonella spp. reduction using black soldier fly for waste recycling , 2014, Agronomy for Sustainable Development.

[23]  M. Paoletti,et al.  Edible Insects in a Food Safety and Nutritional Perspective: A Critical Review , 2013 .

[24]  Ki-Back Chu,et al.  Antibacterial effect of extracts of Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) larvae against Gram‐negative bacteria , 2012 .

[25]  J. V. van Loon,et al.  An Exploration on Greenhouse Gas and Ammonia Production by Insect Species Suitable for Animal or Human Consumption , 2010, PloS one.

[26]  J. Tomberlin,et al.  Fly Prepupae as a Feedstuff for Rainbow Trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss , 2007 .

[27]  J. Tomberlin,et al.  Rearing Methods for the Black Soldier Fly (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) , 2002, Journal of medical entomology.

[28]  J. Hogsette.  New diets for production of house flies and stable flies (Diptera: Muscidae) in the laboratory. , 1992, Journal of economic entomology.

[29]  G. Defoliart,et al.  Comparison of Diets for Mass-Rearing Acheta domesticus (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) as a Novelty Food, and Comparison of Food Conversion Efficiency with Values Reported for Livestock , 1991 .

[30]  C. Sheppard.  House Fly and Lesser Fly Control Utilizing the Black Soldier Fly in Manure Management Systems for Caged Laying Hens , 1983 .

[31]  C. V. Booram,et al.  Dried Hermetia Illucens Larvae Meal as a Supplement for Swine , 1977 .