Table 1.
Tenebrio molitor powder description.
| Products | Yellow Mealworm Powder | |
|---|---|---|
| Raw materials | Yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) fed mainly on cereal bran or flour (wheat, oats, maize) supplemented with fruits and vegetables | |
| Nutritional composition | Whole mealworm powder [20,21] Proteins: 48–64% Lipids: 28–36% Ashes and carbohydrates: 6–10% |
Defatted mealworm powder [22,23,24] Proteins: 65–70% Lipids: 12–20% Ashes and carbohydrates: 8–12% |
| Product characteristics | pH range of 6.5 to 7.0 aw of <0.50 and moisture content of <6% [23] |
|
| Packaging | Packed in a hermetically sealed and opaque plastic bag | |
| Destination | Human consumption | |
| Labeling | Contains allergens similar to crustacean | |
| Shelf life | Best if used within 6 months from manufacturing date * | |
| Storage conditions | Stored in a dry, cool, and clean environment in the original unopened bags | |
* Based on current shelf life of Tenebrio molitor powder available on the market and estimates made on powder of black soldier fly larvae Hermetia illucens [25].