Chitin contained in insects is harmful?
Channel: Small Giants
Date: 2022-11-23

Let’s talk about chitin, a fiber found in the exoskeleton of insects. There are false claims on the internet that chitin is harmful to humans, this claim has no basis in available scientific literature. 

Chitin is one of the most abundant biopolymers on earth and is also found in algae, crustaceans, molluscs and fungi. For mammals to digest chitin, they need to have a gene called ‘the CHIA gene’, which allows for enzymes to break it down into digestible molecules. A recent study* found that the gene is present in primates - the mammalian order to which humans belong - It’s therefore likely that we too are able to digest chitin. 

However, even if we can’t, this doesn't mean it’s harmful. Chitin is comparable with cellulose, which makes up the cell walls of many vegetables, such as celery. The human body is unable to digest it, but the insoluble fibres that vegetables contain still contribute to overall health, especially in our digestive tract. A literature review in the journal of functional foods even suggests chitin as a potential food additive stating ‘Chitin contains 90.6 percent of total dietary fiber and it can be defined as a functional food component’. 

Finally, eating insects is nothing new, they have been regularly consumed by humans throughout history, and more than 2 billion people regularly consume insects today. The EU also continues to approve new species after intensive reviews, so there is no legitimate cause for concern regarding chitin. 

*Evolution of Acidic Mammalian Chitinase Genes (CHIA) Is Related to Body Mass and Insectivory in Primates
Mareike C Janiak 1 2 3, Morgan E Chaney 4 5, Anthony J Tosi 4 5 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29216399/

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