Development of analysis methods for the risk assessment of insect-based protein sources

The increasing reliance on protein sources alternatives to meat-based products includes insects, which have not been extensively monitored or analyzed so far. Yet, there is evidence that insect may contain potentially toxic elements (PTEs), such as arsenic, mercury, cadmium and lead. The development of reliable analysis methods is required to monitor the levels of PTEs, to ensure that these insect-based food items are safe for human consumption. The host laboratory in France, where the method will be developed by the intern, is a reference laboratory for the analysis of food, but they have not focused on the analysis of insect-based food so far. This collaboration will involve the development of a state-of-the-art method for the analysis of a variety of insect-based food items. The resulting method will be published so that it may be implemented by other laboratories worldwide, including in Canada. Furthermore, because PTEs include several elements on Canada’s Critical Minerals List, the method will reveal if insects could be used in geochemical exploration to locate undercover ore deposits containing critical minerals.

Faculty Supervisor:

Diane Beauchemin

Student:

Partner:

ANSES

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Agriculture and Food; Environmental Science and Technology; Health and Related Sciences & Technology

University:

Queen's University

Program: