{"id":2917,"date":"2026-10-27T10:19:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-27T02:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mealwormmachine.com\/?p=2917"},"modified":"2026-10-27T10:45:33","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T02:45:33","slug":"aafco-yellow-mealworm-meal-us-pet-food-fda-pathway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mealwormmachine.com\/el\/aafco-yellow-mealworm-meal-us-pet-food-fda-pathway\/","title":{"rendered":"AAFCO Approves Yellow Mealworm Meal for Adult Dog Food: The U.S. Regulatory Path From Black Soldier Fly (2016) to Tenebrio Molitor (2024)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In <strong>2024<\/strong>, the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) approved a feed ingredient definition for <strong>dried Tenebrio molitor (yellow mealworm) meal for adult dogs<\/strong> \u2014 only the second insect species in history to receive a non-proprietary AAFCO definition, after Hermetia illucens (black soldier fly larvae) climbed the same ladder from 2016 to 2022. For mealworm processors eyeing the U.S. market, this closed a multi-year gap: yellow mealworm now has an explicit, state-adoptable legal identity in American pet food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The timing matters as much as the approval itself. On <strong>1 October 2024<\/strong>, the long-standing Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and AAFCO expired \u2014 the mechanism through which insect ingredient definitions historically reached the Official Publication. FDA responded with two guidances: <strong>GFI #293<\/strong>, protecting ingredients already defined in the 2024 AAFCO Official Publication, and <strong>GFI #294<\/strong>, creating the interim Animal Food Ingredient Consultation (AFIC) pathway. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This article walks through the whole sequence \u2014 what was approved, when, under which authority, and what a processor must actually produce to sell mealworm-based feed or pet food in the United States. It is the U.S. counterpart to our earlier guide on the <a href=\"https:\/\/mealwormmachine.com\/el\/eu-novel-food-authorization-yellow-mealworm\/\">EU novel food authorizations for yellow mealworm<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why the U.S. approach is structurally different from the EU<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The United States has <strong>no novel food regime and no pre-market approval for insect species<\/strong>. There is no EFSA dossier, no Union list, no five-year data exclusivity. Instead, insect-derived ingredients enter the market through the general framework of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&amp;C Act), which classifies animal feed as food and requires every feed ingredient to satisfy at least one of three conditions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Approval as a food additive<\/strong> through a Food Additive Petition (formal, data-heavy, slow);<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>GRAS status<\/strong> (Generally Recognized As Safe) under 21 CFR Parts 570 and 582 \u2014 via self-determination or a GRAS Notification to FDA; or<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Listing in the AAFCO Official Publication<\/strong> \u2014 the voluntary association&#8217;s ingredient compendium, maintained since 1920 and adopted into state feed law by most U.S. states.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In practice, route 3 has been the highway for insects. AAFCO definitions are non-proprietary, state-adopted, and \u2014 until October 2024 \u2014 scientifically supported by FDA under the MOU. That is why the phrase you will hear from U.S. pet food manufacturers is not &#8220;FDA approved&#8221; but &#8220;<strong>AAFCO defined<\/strong>&#8220;. For human food, the logic is even simpler: mealworm is treated as a <strong>conventional food<\/strong>, produced under general sanitary and labelling requirements (21 CFR Part 117 for preventive controls), with no notification or approval step before sale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The insect protein timeline: from black soldier fly to yellow mealworm<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every milestone below is an AAFCO Official Publication action (or an FDA action on the definition process itself). Read top to bottom \u2014 it is the exact regulatory history a U.S. importer&#8217;s compliance officer will check.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Year<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Action<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Species\/form<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Scope<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>2016<\/strong><\/td><td>First AAFCO insect definition<\/td><td>Dried Hermetia illucens larvae (BSFL)<\/td><td>Salmonid fish feed<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>2018<\/strong><\/td><td>Definition reviewed and widened<\/td><td>Dried BSFL<\/td><td>+ poultry<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>2019<\/strong><\/td><td>Definition reviewed and widened<\/td><td>Dried BSFL<\/td><td>+ swine<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>2021<\/strong><\/td><td>Definition extended to pets<\/td><td>Dried BSFL<\/td><td>+ adult dogs (dog food and treats)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>2022<\/strong><\/td><td>Three new BSFL definitions<\/td><td>Dried whole BSFL, partially defatted BSFL meal, BSFL oil<\/td><td>Finfish, poultry, swine, adult dogs, adult cats<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>2024<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Second insect species defined<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Dried Tenebrio molitor (yellow mealworm) meal<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Adult dogs<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Oct 1, 2024<\/strong><\/td><td>FDA\u2013AAFCO MOU expires<\/td><td> \u2014<\/td><td>Definition-process change<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Oct 2024<\/strong><\/td><td>FDA issues <strong>GFI #293<\/strong><\/td><td> \u2014<\/td><td>Enforcement policy for AAFCO-defined ingredients<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>2024\u20132025<\/strong><\/td><td>FDA issues <strong>GFI #294<\/strong> (AFIC)<\/td><td> \u2014<\/td><td>Interim consultation for new animal food ingredients<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>2025<\/strong><\/td><td>AAFCO launches <strong>SRIS<\/strong> (Kansas State University, Olathe)<\/td><td> \u2014<\/td><td>Independent scientific review, ~9-month timeline<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>insect protein timeline<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two observations from this ladder are easy to miss. First, <strong>dogs came before cats<\/strong>: the 2021 extension covered adult dogs only, and cats were added for the BSFL forms in 2022. Yellow mealworm currently sits where BSFL sat in 2021 \u2014 defined for <strong>adult dog food<\/strong>, with cat food, treats and other species still to be formalized. Second, mealworm took <strong>eight years<\/strong> after the first insect definition to be recognized; it was not a shortcut, it was a precedent-driven process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/mealwormmachine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/mealworms-and-BSF.webp\" alt=\"mealworms and BSF\" class=\"wp-image-2929\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mealwormmachine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/mealworms-and-BSF.webp 720w, https:\/\/mealwormmachine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/mealworms-and-BSF-300x225.webp 300w, https:\/\/mealwormmachine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/mealworms-and-BSF-16x12.webp 16w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mealworms And Bsf<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What the 2024 yellow mealworm decision actually allows<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The AAFCO definition covers <strong>dried yellow mealworm meal intended for adult dog food<\/strong>. Because most states incorporate AAFCO&#8217;s Official Publication into their feed control statutes, a manufacturer can formulate, label and sell dog food and treats containing yellow mealworm meal across state lines without a separate federal approval \u2014 provided the label uses the defined ingredient name and the product meets AAFCO&#8217;s nutrient profiles or feeding trial requirements. The practical consequences for the value chain:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Exporters gain a defined spec sheet<\/strong>. &#8220;Mealworm meal for adult dog food&#8221; is no longer judged case-by-case by state feed officials; there is a public definition to contract against (particle form, drying, defat level).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cat food and treats remain a gap<\/strong>. Formulators targeting feline diets should document a safety rationale (GRAS conclusion or AFIC consultation) rather than rely on the dog-food definition.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Human food is a separate track<\/strong>. Dried mealworm for human consumption needs no AAFCO definition \u2014 it must simply comply with general U.S. food law: facility registration, 21 CFR Part 117 preventive controls, correct labelling, and sanitary production. No GRAS notice for T. molitor has been identified in FDA&#8217;s inventory, and none is required for market access.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Substrate and process documentation are the buyer&#8217;s first request<\/strong>. U.S. importers routinely ask for certificates of analysis, heavy-metal and microbiology panels, and a statement of rearing substrate \u2014 the EU-style traceability habit has become a commercial default.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/mealwormmachine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Yellow-Mealworms.webp\" alt=\"Yellow Mealworms\" class=\"wp-image-2932\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mealwormmachine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Yellow-Mealworms.webp 720w, https:\/\/mealwormmachine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Yellow-Mealworms-300x225.webp 300w, https:\/\/mealwormmachine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Yellow-Mealworms-16x12.webp 16w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Yellow Mealworms<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>After the MOU expired: GFI #293, GFI #294 and SRIS<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The most consequential regulatory news of the period was not a species approval but a process rupture. When the FDA\u2013AAFCO MOU expired on <strong>1 October 2024<\/strong>, the industry lost the review mechanism it had used since the first insect definitions. Three developments replaced it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>GFI #293 \u2014 your existing definitions keep their standing<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In October 2024, FDA&#8217;s Center for Veterinary Medicine published <strong>Guidance for Industry #293<\/strong>, stating that FDA does not intend to initiate enforcement action under the food additive requirements of the FD&amp;C Act for ingredients listed in Chapter 6 of the 2024 AAFCO Official Publication. In plain terms: the BSFL definitions and the 2024 yellow mealworm meal definition retain federal standing even without the MOU. This was the guarantee the insect sector needed \u2014 no re-filing, no market withdrawal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>GFI #294 \u2014 AFIC, the interim front door for new ingredients<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">FDA announced draft <strong>GFI #294<\/strong> in August 2024 and finalized it in January 2025, establishing the <strong>Animal Food Ingredient Consultation (AFIC)<\/strong>. AFIC is fee-free, carries no fixed review clock, and publishes a public notice naming the firm, substance and intended use. It sits alongside \u2014 not instead of \u2014 the two classic routes: Food Additive Petitions and the GRAS Notification program remain fully available. Any company hoping to bring a third insect species (crickets, lesser mealworm, superworm) to the U.S. feed market now starts here or at SRIS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>SRIS \u2014 AAFCO&#8217;s independent review with a nine-month clock<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AAFCO responded with its own pathway: the <strong>Scientific Review of Ingredient Submissions (SRIS)<\/strong>, run through Kansas State University&#8217;s Olathe Innovation Campus. Expert panels evaluate dossiers against the FDA GRAS framework; approved definitions enter the Official Publication. SRIS is fee-based, offers a defined review timeline of <strong>roughly nine months<\/strong>, and keeps submission dossiers out of Freedom of Information reach \u2014 but it requires peer-reviewed safety data to be public, which can be a real constraint for proprietary processes. Choosing between AFIC and SRIS is now a strategic decision about disclosure, cost and timing certainty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" src=\"https:\/\/mealwormmachine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/yelleow-mealworms-and-BSFL.webp\" alt=\"yelleow mealworms and BSFL\" class=\"wp-image-2935\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mealwormmachine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/yelleow-mealworms-and-BSFL.webp 720w, https:\/\/mealwormmachine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/yelleow-mealworms-and-BSFL-300x225.webp 300w, https:\/\/mealwormmachine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/yelleow-mealworms-and-BSFL-16x12.webp 16w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Yelleow Mealworms And Bsfl<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>United States vs. European Union at a glance<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th><strong>Aspect<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>\u0397\u03bd\u03c9\u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03b5\u03c2 \u03a0\u03bf\u03bb\u03b9\u03c4\u03b5\u03af\u03b5\u03c2<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>European Union<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Pre-market approval<\/td><td>No \u2014 general food\/feed law<\/td><td>Yes \u2014 EFSA opinion + Commission regulation<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Human food route<\/td><td>Conventional food; sanitary production + labelling<\/td><td>Novel food application (Reg. (EU) 2015\/2283)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Pet food route<\/td><td>AAFCO ingredient definition (state-adopted)<\/td><td>Feed legislation; pet food uses of insect products under Reg. (EC) 1069\/2009 Art. 35<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Yellow mealworm status<\/td><td>Dried meal defined for adult dogs, AAFCO 2024<\/td><td>Authorized as novel food since 2021 (2021\/882, 2022\/169, 2025\/89)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Exclusivity for first applicant<\/td><td>None<\/td><td>5 years (data protection)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Ingredient-by-species list<\/td><td>No \u2014 ingredient definitions only<\/td><td>Yes \u2014 8 insect species permitted in feed (2017\/893, 2021\/1372, 2021\/1925)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Post-market enforcement<\/td><td>FDA can act against adulterated or misbranded products<\/td><td>Same principle, EU official controls<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong>United States vs. European Union<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What this means for a mealworm processing line sold to the U.S.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">American buyers do not ask for a novel food certificate \u2014 they ask for <strong>evidence that the process is controlled<\/strong>. The regulatory demands above translate directly into equipment and line design choices:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>FSMA 21 CFR Part 507 readiness<\/strong>. Animal food facilities must do a written hazard analysis and implement risk-based preventive controls. A line that lets you document each batch (in-feed ID \u2192 sort \u2192 dry \u2192 packaged lot) is doing half your compliance paperwork. Shuliy&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/mealwormmachine.com\/el\/mealworm-beetle-sorting-machine-color-sorter-unit\/\">mealworm separator line<\/a> is built for batch-traceable sorting of larvae, pupae, dead worms and frass.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Drying that is provable, not anecdotal<\/strong>. Dried mealworm meal must sit at a low, consistent moisture (typically under 6%) to control microbial growth. Shuliy&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/mealwormmachine.com\/el\/mealworm-drying-machine-microwave-dryer\/\">\u03c3\u03c5\u03bd\u03b5\u03c7\u03ad\u03c2 \u03c3\u03c4\u03b5\u03b3\u03bd\u03c9\u03c4\u03ae\u03c1\u03b9\u03bf \u03bc\u03b9\u03ba\u03c1\u03bf\u03ba\u03c5\u03bc\u03ac\u03c4\u03c9\u03bd<\/a> holds final moisture under 6% with logged parameters your QA team can attach to a certificate of analysis.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Defatting for meal formulations<\/strong>. Dog food diets frequently use partially defatted meal to hit protein and fat targets. Shuliy&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/mealwormmachine.com\/el\/mealworm-oil-extraction-machine\/\">mealworm oil extraction machine<\/a> pairs pressing with the dryer to produce press-cake meal plus a saleable insect oil fraction.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Grading consistency<\/strong>. The AAFCO definition assumes a defined, uniform meal. Upstream grading with Shuliy&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/mealwormmachine.com\/el\/pupa-sorting-machine-for-mealworm\/\">pupa sorting sifter<\/a> keeps raw material uniform before drying and milling.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Black soldier fly lines benefit from the same rules<\/strong>. If your facility runs BSFL as well, the <a href=\"https:\/\/mealwormmachine.com\/el\/industrial-bsf-black-soldier-fly-separator\/\">industrial BSF separator<\/a> covers the 2016\u20132022 BSFL definitions \u2014 the same documentation discipline applies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One caution worth stating plainly: because the U.S. back-loads oversight rather than front-loading it, <strong>the burden of proof sits with the producer<\/strong>. If FDA or a state feed official challenges a product after it is on shelf, you need batch records, lab panels and process specifications to defend it. Buying a line that produces uniform, logged, repeatable output is the cheapest insurance available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" data-id=\"2379\" src=\"https:\/\/mealwormmachine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Tenebrio-molitor-screening-unit-for-mealworm-farm.webp\" alt=\"\u039c\u03bf\u03bd\u03ac\u03b4\u03b1 \u03b1\u03bd\u03af\u03c7\u03bd\u03b5\u03c5\u03c3\u03b7\u03c2 Tenebrio molitor \u03b3\u03b9\u03b1 \u03c4\u03b7\u03bd \u03b5\u03ba\u03bc\u03b5\u03c4\u03ac\u03bb\u03bb\u03b5\u03c5\u03c3\u03b7 \u03c3\u03ba\u03bf\u03c5\u03bb\u03b7\u03ba\u03b9\u03ce\u03bd\" class=\"wp-image-2379\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mealwormmachine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Tenebrio-molitor-screening-unit-for-mealworm-farm.webp 720w, https:\/\/mealwormmachine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Tenebrio-molitor-screening-unit-for-mealworm-farm-300x225.webp 300w, https:\/\/mealwormmachine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Tenebrio-molitor-screening-unit-for-mealworm-farm-16x12.webp 16w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u039c\u03bf\u03bd\u03ac\u03b4\u03b1 \u0395\u03bb\u03ad\u03b3\u03c7\u03bf\u03c5 Tenebrio Molitor \u03b3\u03b9\u03b1 \u03c4\u03b7\u03bd \u0395\u03ba\u03bc\u03b5\u03c4\u03ac\u03bb\u03bb\u03b5\u03c5\u03c3\u03b7 \u0396\u03b1\u03bc\u03c0\u03cc\u03bd<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"388\" height=\"291\" data-id=\"2747\" src=\"https:\/\/mealwormmachine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Mealworm-Sifting-Machine.webp\" alt=\"Mealworm Sifting Machine\" class=\"wp-image-2747\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mealwormmachine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Mealworm-Sifting-Machine.webp 388w, https:\/\/mealwormmachine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Mealworm-Sifting-Machine-300x225.webp 300w, https:\/\/mealwormmachine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Mealworm-Sifting-Machine-16x12.webp 16w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 388px) 100vw, 388px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mealworm Sifting Machine<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Frequently asked questions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list\">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1793067245482\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\"><strong>Is yellow mealworm approved for pet food in the United States?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>Yes, for adult dog food. In 2024 AAFCO approved a feed ingredient definition for dried Tenebrio molitor (yellow mealworm) meal for adult dogs \u2014 the second insect species after black soldier fly larvae. Because most states adopt AAFCO&#8217;s Official Publication into their feed laws, the definition applies nationwide. Cat food and treats are not yet covered by a mealworm-specific definition.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1793067260752\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\"><strong>Did the FDA approve mealworm as an animal feed ingredient?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>FDA does not pre-approve insect feed ingredients. Under the FD&amp;C Act, a feed ingredient must be an approved food additive, GRAS, or listed in the AAFCO Official Publication. Yellow mealworm entered through the AAFCO route, and FDA&#8217;s GFI #293 (October 2024) confirms that ingredients defined in the 2024 AAFCO Official Publication retain their standing under federal law.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1793067279672\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\"><strong>What is the difference between the 2021 and 2024 AAFCO insect approvals?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>The 2021 action extended the existing black soldier fly larvae definition to adult dog food. The 2024 action was a new species: dried yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) meal for adult dogs. A third wave in 2022 added dried whole BSFL, partially defatted BSFL meal and BSFL oil for finfish, poultry, swine, adult dogs and adult cats.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1793067289439\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\"><strong>Can I sell mealworm powder as human food in the U.S.?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>Yes. The U.S. has no novel food framework, so mealworm is treated as a conventional food under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. You must register your facility, comply with preventive controls (21 CFR Part 117), label correctly, and produce under sanitary conditions. No pre-market approval or GRAS notice for T. molitor is required, but FDA can act post-market against adulterated or misbranded products.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1793067301536\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\"><strong>What changed when the FDA-AAFCO Memorandum of Understanding expired in October 2024?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>The MOU, under which FDA provided scientific review support for AAFCO ingredient definitions, expired on 1 October 2024. FDA replaced it with GFI #293 (enforcement policy protecting existing AAFCO-defined ingredients) and GFI #294, which created the interim Animal Food Ingredient Consultation (AFIC) pathway. AAFCO separately launched SRIS, an independent review run with Kansas State University&#8217;s Olathe Innovation Campus, with a review timeline of about nine months.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1793067314136\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\"><strong>What equipment does a U.S.-facing mealworm meal line require?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>A line that meets buyer expectations typically includes a larva\/pupa\/dead-worm separator for pre-drying sorting, a continuous dryer that reaches under 6% moisture with logged parameters, an optional oil press for partially defatted meal, and batch records linking incoming larvae to finished lots for FSMA 21 CFR Part 507 compliance. Shuliy supplies the separator, microwave dryer, sifter and oil extraction stages as standard equipment.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Sources &amp; official references<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>FDA CVM Guidance for Industry #293 \u2014 Enforcement Policy for AAFCO Defined Animal Feed Ingredients: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/regulatory-information\/search-fda-guidance-documents\/cvm-gfi-293-fda-enforcement-policy-aafco-defined-animal-feed-ingredients\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fda.gov GFI #293<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>FDA CVM Guidance for Industry #294 \u2014 Animal Food Ingredient Consultation (AFIC): <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/regulatory-information\/search-fda-guidance-documents\/cvm-gfi-294-animal-food-ingredient-consultation-afic\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fda.gov GFI #294<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Federal Register \u2014 draft GFI #294 availability, confirming expiry of the FDA\u2013AAFCO MOU on 1 October 2024: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/documents\/2024\/08\/09\/2024-17778\/animal-food-ingredient-consultation-draft-guidance-for-industry-availability\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Federal Register 2024-17778<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>AAFCO \u2014 Official Publication and ingredient definitions: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aafco.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">aafco.org<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Scientific Review of Ingredient Submissions (SRIS), Kansas State University Olathe Innovation Campus: <a href=\"https:\/\/sris.k-state.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">sris.k-state.edu<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>21 CFR Part 507 \u2014 CGMP and hazard analysis for animal food (FSMA): <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ecfr.gov\/current\/title-21\/chapter-I\/subchapter-B\/part-507\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">eCFR Part 507<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>21 CFR Part 570 \u2014 Food additives: GRAS status: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ecfr.gov\/current\/title-21\/chapter-I\/subchapter-B\/part-570\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">eCFR Part 570<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>21 CFR Part 117 \u2014 Preventive controls for human food: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ecfr.gov\/current\/title-21\/chapter-I\/subchapter-B\/part-117\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">eCFR Part 117<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Last reviewed: 27 October 2026. This article is informational only and does not constitute legal or regulatory advice. Confirm the current AAFCO Official Publication and FDA guidances before formulating or exporting feed and pet food products to the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Talk to Shuliy about a U.S.-ready mealworm line<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you are building a line to supply U.S. pet food or feed manufacturers, send us your target monthly output, raw material form (live larvae or pre-dried) and required end product (dried whole larva, defatted meal, or oil plus cake). We will reply with a sizing proposal, a moisture-and-throughput specification, and the documentation package your buyer&#8217;s compliance team will ask for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Request a sizing proposal \u2192 <a href=\"https:\/\/mealwormmachine.com\/el\/contact\/\">https:\/\/mealwormmachine.com\/contact\/<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In 2024, AAFCO approved a feed ingredient definition for dried Tenebrio molitor (yellow mealworm) meal for adult dogs \u2014 only the second insect species ever defined. This article traces the full U.S. pathway: the 2016-2022 black soldier fly ladder, the FDA-AAFCO MOU expiry of October 2024, GFI #293 and #294, and what each step requires of processors exporting to the United States.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2927,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[472,463,473,476,477,475,471,474],"class_list":["post-2917","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-aafco","tag-black-soldier-fly","tag-fda-pet-food","tag-gfi-293","tag-gfi-294","tag-insect-protein-regulation","tag-tenebrio-molitor","tag-yellow-mealworm"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mealwormmachine.com\/el\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2917","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mealwormmachine.com\/el\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mealwormmachine.com\/el\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mealwormmachine.com\/el\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mealwormmachine.com\/el\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2917"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/mealwormmachine.com\/el\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2917\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2938,"href":"https:\/\/mealwormmachine.com\/el\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2917\/revisions\/2938"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mealwormmachine.com\/el\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2927"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mealwormmachine.com\/el\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2917"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mealwormmachine.com\/el\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2917"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mealwormmachine.com\/el\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2917"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}