Assessment of health risks from the use of frozen eggs of Sitotroga cerealella as feed in the products CHRYSObio and CHRYSOcontrol

Background

The plant protection products CHRYSObio and CHRYSOcontrol contain Chrysoperla carnea and frozen eggs of Sitotroga cerealella. The eggs are used as feed for the larvae of C. carnea, the beneficial organism in the products. VKM has previously assessed environmental and health risks associated with C. carnea. Since the eggs of S. cerealella are frozen (dead), VKM has now assessed only human health hazard associated with the eggs in the products CHRYSObio and CHRYSOcontrol.

Conclusion

Insect eggs, frozen or not, can carry pathogens that may be harmful to humans. Freezing can kill some of these pathogens, but some hardy pathogens can survive low temperatures. Some people are allergic to insect proteins, and freezing does not eliminate such proteins. However, VKM found no reports identifying eggs of S. cerealella neither as carriers of pathogens nor as a cause of allergies in humans.

The risk assessment is approved by VKM's Panel on Plant Health.

VKM provides independent scientific assessments of issues that are important for the environment and safe food. VKM does not give advice or take a position on how the risk should be managed. We can investigate the consequences of various alternative actions, but our commissioners decide how to manage risk.