Method for treating insects, in which the cuticles are separated from the soft part of the insects using a belt separator

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for treating insects, comprising the separation of the cuticles from the soft part of the insects, the separation being performed using a belt separator, and a step of maturation of the soft part of the insects, which step is carried out without diluting the soft part of the insects in a solvent. 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:
 a step of separating the cuticles from the soft part of the insects, in which the separation is carried out using a belt separator, and   a step of maturation of the soft part of the insects, said step being carried out without any dilution of the soft part of the insects in a solvent.   
     
     
         2 . Process according to  claim 1 , comprising a step of separating the soft part of the insects into a fat fraction, a solid fraction and an aqueous fraction. 
     
     
         3 . Solid fraction obtainable by the process according to  claim 2 . 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . Process according to  claim 2 , comprising a step of concentrating the aqueous fraction. 
     
     
         6 . Aqueous fraction obtainable by the process according to  claim 2 . 
     
     
         7 . 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. 
     
     
         8 . Process according to  claim 2 , 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. 
     
     
         9 . Process according to  claim 2 , comprising a step of drying the solid fraction or the mixture in order to obtain a dry solid fraction or a dry mixture, respectively. 
     
     
         10 . Process according to  claim 9 , also comprising a step of grinding the dry solid fraction or the dry mixture. 
     
     
         11 . Powder obtainable by the process according to  claim 10 . 
     
     
         12 . 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. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . Use as flavouring of an aqueous fraction according to  claim 6 . 
     
     
         15 . Use of a powder according to  claim 11 , in nutrition. 
     
     
         16 . Use according to  claim 14 , in animal nutrition. 
     
     
         17 . Use as flavouring of the powder according to  claim 13 .