Determination of Shelf-life and Optimal Storage Conditions for Cricket Powder

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Entomo Farms, previously Next Millennium Farms, is a local company who specialize in insect protein production. Their insect protein powder, which is specifically and exclusively processed for human consumption, is unique, innovative, extremely nutritious and an environmentally sustainable model of food production. Entomo Farms is motivated to be recognized as a world leader in providing protein alternatives in the form of the finest organic and world-class insect proteins with great tasting products and recipes. Additionally, Entomo Farms is striving to enable, encourage and educate more people on the relevance and socio-political impact of their protein carbon footprint. With the population becoming more conscious about how their food is prepared and endeavoring towards more organic and GMO free products, as well as issues such as iron deficiency, Entomo Farms offers a gluten-free, protein alternative through its cricket powder that has twice the amount of protein than beef, more calcium than milk, includes all nine essential amino acids, and has more iron than spinach. All of this is accomplished by using a fraction of the farming essentials (water and feed) that typical beef, pork, and chicken farming require. There is tremendous interest from commercial retailers to sell this product; however Entomo Farms must first be able to satisfy several International and Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) guidelines. The purpose of this project (phase 1) is to address the Food Labeling for Industry: Date Markings and Storage Instructions, from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) guidelines and provide Entomo Farms with a best before date through determination of shelf-life as well as the optimal storage instructions for the companys cricket powder product. Factors affecting stability (i.e. crude fat, crude protein, percent moisture, iron, etc.) will be measured and stability tests and storage conditions, including packaging options, will be investigated using accepted methods over a 12 month period. The results of this first phase project will provide the company with the information necessary to include a best before date on packaging, as well as provide them with the optimal storage conditions for the cricket powder to satisfy distributors for re-sale purposes.