INSECTS
The most revolutionary protein!
Insects are the food of the future!
Eating insects isn't a fad: around the world, more than 2 billion people have been eating them regularly for centuries. It may seem a bit strange to us, but it's a concrete answer to two of today's biggest challenges: the search for a nutritious and balanced diet and the need to reduce environmental impact. Insects offer an incredible wealth of protein and essential nutrients – and flavour! – with a very low environmental impact.
At Small Giants, we turn these sustainable proteins into innovative products that are easy to bring to the table every day. So you can add more variety to your diet with tasty, convenient protein in your routine!
They're in there, you just can't see them
In our Insect line we use two species authorised by the European Union: crickets (Acheta domesticus) and mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor). In most products, like pasta and crackers, we use them in flour form, blended with cereal flours: the ideal way to enjoy their nutritional benefits in traditional foods. And for those looking for a unique crunch and a more direct experience, we offer whole dried insects, seasoned with salt and spices.
A new raw material, a familiar flavour
Forget weird or unpleasant flavours. Cricket flour has a delicate taste, with toasty notes reminiscent of nuts, popcorn or sunflower seeds. In our baked snacks it blends perfectly with the flavour of the cereals and natural flavourings we use. Whole dried insects, on the other hand, are very crunchy and take on much of the flavour of the herbs or spices we roast them with.
More protein than meat, fish or legumes
Gram for gram, crickets beat all traditional protein sources like beef, fish or legumes. Cricket flour is a true concentrate, reaching up to 70-77% protein content. This is protein of high biological value, or "complete" protein, because it provides all 9 essential amino acids that our body can't produce on its own and that are key to the maintenance and growth of muscle mass.
Much more than a protein concentrate
Insects are a true concentrate of essential micronutrients for the body: they contain more vitamin B12 than red meat (a vitamin often lacking in vegetarian and vegan diets), more calcium than milk and more potassium than bananas. They're also rich in highly bioavailable iron. An ideal natural combination to keep your daily energy up.
Highly absorbable iron, safe for the body
Not all iron is absorbed the same way. Insects provide highly absorbable iron, similar to that in red meat (so-called heme iron) and far more effective than the iron in spinach, but with one big advantage: their nutritional matrix is rich in natural antioxidants and free of harmful compounds. This means the iron is absorbed and used by the body to fight tiredness and provide energy, without triggering the inflammatory processes or cellular risks often associated with overconsumption of red or processed meat.
The power of chitin
Besides being highly digestible, insects contain chitin, a natural fibre that acts as a prebiotic. This means it feeds the "good" bacteria in your microbiota, supports gut health and promotes light digestion, without the usual heavy or bloated feeling after meals.
Origin and transparency
Our larvae come from authorised producers in Lithuania, while our crickets come from certified farms in Vietnam. We chose Vietnam because insect farming is a traditional practice there and, thanks to the subtropical climate, temperatures match those of the crickets' natural habitat. This avoids artificial heating in greenhouses, saving huge amounts of energy. Plus, transport is by ship only, making the CO₂ impact of shipping practically negligible.
100% safe
Eating our products is 100% safe. All the insects we use have been rigorously assessed and approved by EFSA (the European Food Safety Authority) under the Novel Food regulation. They come exclusively from traceable, controlled supply chains, where the insects are fed 100% plant-based diets and processed in certified facilities that meet the highest hygiene and safety standards.
Insects are sustainability superstars!
Insects are among the most sustainable protein sources on the planet. Compared to meat and fish, they need very little water, land and feed, emit a fraction of the CO₂, and efficiently convert agricultural by-products into top-quality protein. To produce the same amount of protein as cattle, they need up to 99% less water and 90% less land. Adding insects to your diet means shrinking your ecological footprint, combining high nutritional value with a lower environmental impact.
There's life beyond canned tuna!
How many times have you asked yourself "What should I eat today?" only to end up with the same sad tuna pasta? Maybe you even tried cutting back on meat, but after two days of tofu and beans you were fed up. We get it. That's why we only offer sustainable, zero-hassle proteins, so you can break the monotony without weighing on the planet or your stove. Because out there is a whole world of proteins, traditional or innovative: just keep them in your pantry to remind yourself there's life beyond canned tuna.
