Method for treating insects, in which the cuticles are separated from the soft part of the insects, and the soft part is then separated into three fractions

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for treating insects, comprising the separation of the cuticles from the soft part of the insects, the maturation of the soft part of the insects, followed by the separation of the soft part of the insects into an oil fraction, a solid fraction and an aqueous fraction. The invention further relates to powders, in particular a powder obtainable by the method of treating insects according to the invention, and to the use of these powders in food.

1 . Process for treating insects comprising the following steps:
 separating the cuticles from the soft part of the insects,   maturation of the soft part of the insects, then   separating the soft part of the insects into a fat fraction, a solid fraction and an aqueous fraction.   
     
     
         2 . Process according to  claim 1 , in which separating the cuticles from the soft part of the insects is carried out using a filter press. 
     
     
         3 . Process according to  claim 1 , in which separating the cuticles from the soft part of the insects is carried out using a belt separator. 
     
     
         4 . Solid fraction obtainable by the process according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . Process according to  claim 1 , comprising a step of concentrating the aqueous fraction. 
     
     
         7 . Aqueous fraction obtainable by the process according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         8 . Aqueous fraction comprising at least 48% by weight proteins, at least 2% by weight trehalose and having a lipid content less than 7% by weight, the percentages by weight being indicated with respect to the total dry weight of the aqueous fraction. 
     
     
         9 . Process according to  claim 1 , also comprising a step of mixing the solid fraction with:
 all or part of the concentrated aqueous fraction; and/or   all or part of the cuticles,   
       in order to obtain a mixture. 
     
     
         10 . Process according to  claim 1 , comprising a step of drying the solid fraction or the mixture in order to obtain a dry solid fraction or a dry mixture, respectively. 
     
     
         11 . Process according to  claim 10 , also comprising a step of grinding the dry solid fraction or the dry mixture. 
     
     
         12 . Powder obtainable by the process according to  claim 11 . 
     
     
         13 . Powder comprising at least 71% by weight proteins and comprising between 0.1 and 4% by weight chitin, the percentages by weight being indicated with respect to the total dry weight of powder. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . Use as flavouring of an aqueous fraction according to  claim 7 . 
     
     
         16 . Use of a powder according to  claim 12 , in nutrition. 
     
     
         17 . Use according to  claim 15 , in animal nutrition. 
     
     
         18 . Use as flavouring of the powder according to  claim 14 .