photo from Exo

By Jeanne Yacoubou, MS

Vegans have yet another–and new–reason to read the ingredient statements on packaged food and beverages: acheta powder.

What is acheta powder?

Acheta powder is derived from the pulverized bodies (with or without the exoskeleton) of house crickets. This ingredient gets its name from the scientific one for crickets, Acheta domesticus.

You may also see it labeled as acheta flour, although it’s unlike traditional, carbohydrate-rich flours. Acheta flour is high in protein and fat, containing little carbohydrate.

Which foods and beverages may contain acheta powder?

The list of packaged foods and beverages that may contain acheta powder is growing rapidly. As we discover new products, we’ll update this article.

For now, be on the lookout for acheta powder in many vegan staples including:

• baked goods
• flour
• tortillas
• cookies
• bread
• pasta

Food technologists are experimenting with cricket protein hydrolysates created through processes like those used to form soy protein hydrolysates. They are being tested as protein powders for sports drinks or as meat analogs similar to textured vegetable protein (TVP) in hamburgers, sausages, or meatballs. Cricket protein is also being tested in egg and dairy replacers. Other insect proteins are being tested in margarine.

Numerous patent applications for a variety of insect-derived ingredients used in rice cakes and noodles, energy bars, jerky, soup, tea, coffee, salad dressing, and tofu have been filed in recent years. Patent applications do not mean these products exist now on the market, but they’re in the R&D stage.

Companies Selling Acheta Powder or Products

Here’s a list of companies we’ve found so far that sell acheta powder or products containing it. They’re all based in the US unless otherwise noted.

• All Things Bugs
• Chirps
• Cricket Flours
• Crunchy Critters (UK)
• Entomo Farms
• Exo Protein
• Eat Grub (UK)
• JR Unique Foods (Thailand)
• Merci Mercado

Takeaways on Edible Insects

We encourage companies to label the ingredients clearly with the type of insect so consumers can make a choice. These products should not be labeled vegan. But always be wary.

We encourage you to read all packaged food labels carefully. If you should find acheta powder or some other insect-derived substance in a food or beverage, please let us know at [email protected]. Snapshots of ingredient labels appreciated!