Swiss start-up Essento has introduced a range of burgers and balls made from insects, going on sale in supermarket Coop.
The introduction comes after Switzerland revised its food safety laws in May, allowing the production and distribution of insect-based food. Essento said the products are made with natural ingredients with a high nutritional potential.
The burgers contain mealworms, rice, carrots and leeks, as well as oregano and chilli. The insect balls consist of a mix of mealworms, chickpeas, onions, coriander and parsley.
Essento co-founder Christian Bärtsch said: “In terms of food, insects are an excellent choice for a number of reasons: they have high culinary potential, their production saves resources, and their nutritional profile is high. Insects are thus the perfect supplement for a contemporary meal plan.
“Coop and Essento are united by a quest for sustainable solutions. We have been working together for three years and will continue to work on establishing insects as a food in Switzerland.”
The two variants will be available from 21 August at selected Coop supermarkets in Switzerland.
Essento has concentrated on the culinary potential of insects for over three years. It develops, produces and markets specialities made from edible insects for the retail and catering sectors.
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