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Reduction in pesticide use means that is more difficult to banish insects, mites and worms from crops.
The table below gives examples of the maximum permissible level of contamination for common foodstuffs, according to EU. So next time you sit down for a meal, have a look at your plate – maybe a diet including locusts and crickets is not such a huge departure after all.
| Product | Type of insect contamination | Maximum permissible level |
| Canned sweet corn | Insect larvae | 2 or more 3mm or longer larvae, cast skins, larval or cast skin fragments |
| Canned citrus fruit juices | Insects and insect eggs | 5 or more Drosophila and other fly eggs per 250ml or 1 or more maggots per 250ml |
| Frozen broccoli | Insects and mites | Average of 60 or more aphids and/or thrips and/or mites per 100 grams |
| Hops | Insects | Average of more than 2500 aphids per 10 grams |
| Ground thyme | Insect filth | Average of 925 or more insect fragments |
| Peanut butter | Insect filth | Average of 30 or more insect fragments per 100 grams |
| Wheat flour | Insect filth | Average of 150 or more insect fragments per 100 grams |
