Qingdao Shengtong Machinery Technology Co., Ltd.

The larvae of the yellow mealworm, known as the “breadbug,” are not only nutritious, but scientists have found that they have the potential to slow down the aging process.

Yellow mealworms, known as the "treasure trove of protein feed", are not only famous for their high protein content, but also highly praised for their rich nutritional value. This insect is not uncommon in daily life, but can bring unexpected benefits to the breeding industry.

In aquatic feed, fish meal has always been a popular source of protein because it contains rich protein and fatty acids, has a balanced amino acid composition, is easy to digest and has good palatability. However, overfishing of wild fish for fish meal production has brought great pressure to the ecological environment. At the same time, the continuous rise in fish meal prices has also squeezed the profit margins of aquaculture and even triggered competition for resources between aquaculture and human consumption. Therefore, finding a nutritious and sustainable fish meal substitute has become an urgent problem to be solved in the field of aquaculture.

Mealworms, a nutritious insect resource, are gradually becoming the new favorite of the pet industry. Its protein content is as high as 49%~55%, and the types and proportions of amino acids are highly consistent with the standards recommended by the World Health Organization. It is also rich in unsaturated fatty acids and chitosan. The low cost of raising mealworms and rapid reproduction have led to the emergence of large-scale modern breeding companies in China. Although the development and research of insect food in China is not as good as that in foreign countries, with the rise of the craze for animal protein substitutes, the potential of mealworms as high-protein substitutes is gradually being explored.

Seven characteristics of insect antimicrobial protein.

Flies, cockroaches and many other insects that live in humid, bacteria-rich environments all year round carry hundreds of pathogens, but never get sick. This is because they contain a variety of special ingredients, such as the most important natural high-quality active proteins, amino acids (including 8 essential amino acids for the human body), unsaturated amino acids, vitamins and calcium, iron, zinc, selenium and other mineral elements, as well as antimicrobial peptides, defensins, exogenous lectins and low chitosan substances that have special effects on the human body.

On January 21, 2025, according to the EU Official Gazette, the European Commission issued Regulation (EU) No. 2025/89, which approved UV-treated powder of whole yellow mealworm as a new food for market use in a variety of foods such as cheese, jam, and bread, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 2015/2283 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

Similar to earthworms, mealworms also have the ability to transform through the abdomen, and can efficiently transform all kinds of vegetable waste and fruit waste into insect body protein.

Briefly describe the seven characteristics of insect antimicrobial protein as a new generation of protein raw materials.