Rare earth elements in flour samples. A potential transfer from cricket food to the human level through the trophic chain

Wheat flour is the traditional material from which many foodstuffs, like bread, are produced. However, over the last years several other types of flour have been produced as substitutes. Cricket flour belongs among these types of flour and has been previously shown to be very beneficial for human health. Rare earth elements (REEs) have been assigned as potentially hazardous for human and environmental health. However, no previous study has determined their levels in flour samples. In this study, REE levels were determined in different types of flour. The cricket flour contains significantly higher amounts of REEs compared to other flours. The potential source of REEs in cricket flour was investigated by determining REE levels in dry crickets and cricket food. The cricket food contains much higher amounts of REEs compared to all the other samples. The dry crickets contain higher amounts of REEs compared to the flours. A human exposure to REEs is higher plausible through consumption of cricket flour compared to other flours. This is the first study determining REEs in flour samples, including cricket flour, as well as in crickets and the cricket food.