Protein for tomorrow: Exploring the safety of edible insects for global food demands

The main objective of this project is to assess the food safety of edible insects, specifically Tenebrio molitor. To this end, a microbiological characterisation of these insects will be carried out at different times/seasons of the year in order to understand their bacterial diversity and the potential presence of antibiotic-resistance genes; the impact of their ingestion on the human intestinal microbiome will be studied, as well as their potential cytotoxicity and the safety of these products will be assessed pre- and post-treatment using challenge tests. At the same time, the perception of Portuguese consumers regarding the food safety of insect-based products will be assessed.