Foods such as smoothies, biscuits, pasta and burgers could be made from the insect.

However, the products may not be advisable for everyone. Those with prawn and dust mite allergies are likely to suffer a reaction to the Tenebrio molitor larvae, whether eaten in powder form as part of a recipe or as a snack.

The conclusion of scientists at the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is expected to lead to EU-wide approval within months of yellow mealworm as a product fit for supermarket shelves and kitchen pantries across Europe.

The insect’s main components are protein, fat and fibre, offering a sustainable and low carbon source of food for the future. When dried, the maggot-like insect is said to taste a lot like peanuts, The Guardian reports.