The deputy decided to protect Russians from eating insects: an appeal was drawn up to Rospotrebnadzor

“Why experiment on people?”

State Duma deputy Oleg Leonov proposed labeling insect products. He sent such a request to Rospotrebnadzor.

According to the parliamentarian, a number of citizens, for ethical, religious or other reasons, would not like to purchase food products made from insects (even despite conducting a full range of studies confirming the safety of such products for human life and health). Therefore, Leonov considers it necessary to provide for the introduction of a mandatory emblem for food products obtained using insects, similar to the mandatory “GMO” emblem. The deputy classified insect products into the category of “new type of food products,” which go on sale after state registration, which includes conducting a set of studies, without special emblems.

– The most important thing is the unknown. Each of us has accidentally swallowed a mosquito in our lives, but we do not know the consequences of eating insects systematically. Why experiment on people? – Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on the Development of Civil Society, Issues of Public and Religious Associations, member of the New People party Oleg Leonov comments on his initiative to MK. – We must first conduct research, understand all the risks and the degree of danger. Until we know the consequences, insect products should be labeled. If insect protein flour is now produced, it is listed as a “new product.” There is no GOST for it and there are no requirements for it. You won’t carefully study the composition of the products used on every sausage and loaf of bread. Most people have no idea what they actually ate. We ask that such products be marked with large, contrasting markings stating “this was made by insects.”

“If food products produced using insects receive state registration, then citizens will purchase them without a special sign on the packaging indicating the presence of insects or substances derived from insects. At the same time, a significant part of citizens do not read the ingredients of products. Thus, starting from June 26, 2020, the labeling of food products obtained using genetically modified organisms must have, next to the unified sign of product circulation on the EAEU market, the “GMO” sign, identical in shape and size. If the manufacturer did not use genetically modified organisms in the production of food products, then their content in it, not exceeding 0.9%, is considered an accidental or technically irremovable impurity. Such products are not classified as containing GMOs, and their labeling does not require relevant information. Accordingly, similar measures can be applied to products obtained using insects,” says the deputy’s letter to the head of the Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare of the Russian Federation, Anna Popova.