Black soldier fly larvae fractions show promise for food and packaging uses

A review published in npj Science of Food examines how black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) can be processed into distinct fractions for food and food-contact applications, mapping the current state of processing, functionality, safety and consumer acceptance.

The authors, led by Samiullah Khan with colleagues including Xun Xiang, Rabia Durrani, Ibrar Muhammad Khan, Nourhan Nassar, Min Zhao and Jianjun Guo, evaluate four major fractions. These are proteins for nutritional and techno-functional applications, lipids for formulation, peptide-rich fractions with candidate bioactivities, and chitin or chitosan for food-contact materials.

According to the review, protein fractions have the broadest direct food application evidence among the four. The other fractions occupy different positions on the path to use: lipids are considered for formulation roles, peptide-rich fractions carry candidate bioactivities that remain to be established, and chitin and chitosan are positioned for food-contact materials rather than direct food ingredients.

The review emphasizes that translation of these larval fractions into practice requires food safety validation and consumer evaluation.

As a review article, the work synthesizes existing literature rather than presenting new experimental results, and the publisher notes that this shared version is subject to further edits before the final Version of Record. The article was published open access on 23 October 2026.

Subject of Research: Applications of black soldier fly larvae protein, lipid, peptide and chitin fractions in food and packaging

Article Title: Food and packaging applications of black soldier fly larvae fractions: from processing and functionality to safety and consumer acceptance

Article References: Khan, S., Xiang, X., Durrani, R., Khan, I. M., Nassar, N., Zhao, M., & Guo, J. (2026). Food and packaging applications of black soldier fly larvae fractions: from processing and functionality to safety and consumer acceptance. npj Science of Food. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-026-01203-w

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1038/s41538-026-01203-w

Keywords: black soldier fly larvae, insect protein, food processing, chitosan, food packaging, food safety, consumer acceptance, lipids, bioactive peptides, npj Science of Food, Food, packaging