Check the ingredient list for names required in the country where the food is sold. In the United States, look for carmine or cochineal extract. On some products sold in the European Union, insect foods may instead be listed by species and form, such as Acheta domesticus (house cricket). A label tells you what the manufacturer declares; it is not a test for undeclared ingredients or cross-contact.
Start with the ingredient statement
Read the full ingredient list, not just the front of the package. Names and requirements differ by market, and an insect-derived ingredient may not be labeled with the words “insect-derived.”
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For food sold in the United States
Scan for carmine and cochineal extract. FDA guidance says each must be listed by its respective common or usual name when used as a color additive in food; look for either name rather than assuming both will appear. The FDA’s Small Entity Compliance Guide states: “Cochineal extract or carmine must be listed on the label by its respective common or usual name, ‘cochineal extract’ or ‘carmine.’”
FDA identifies both as insect-derived. Its food-allergy guidance says they have been identified as allergenic substances that must be declared on food labels. The FDA ingredient database also associates names including “carmine” and “cochineal extract lake” with the ingredient; see FDA’s color-additives information. Do not assume that every unfamiliar additive or every color additive comes from insects.
#1 Best Overall
- IDENTIFY WHICH FOODS MAY BE CAUSING YOUR SYMPTOMS. Food intolerances happen when your gut microbiome and digestive enzymes can’t break down a food ingredient. Although gluten and lactose are the most common issues, intolerances can happen with any food item. When these intolerances go unchecked, symptoms like headaches, gas, diarrhea, acne, and bloating may develop.
- TESTS 800 COMMON FOOD ITEMS. Our food intolerance test for adults and children covers 14 major food categories: dairy, vegetables, fruits, grains, meats, seafood, nuts, sweeteners, spices, fats, oils, mushrooms, superfoods, and preservatives.
- HOW IT WORKS. (1) Register your test kit on the 5Strands website or mobile app (2) Collect 10-15 strands of hair. (3) Send your sample to our certified lab using the included prepaid shipping materials. (4) Once your sample is received, we’ll email you the results within 4 days. After 60 days, your hair sample will be permanently disposed of.
- EASY TO READ RESULTS. Each food item is labeled as Insignificant, Mild, Moderate, or Severe to help guide your elimination plan. This gives you clear directions to begin removing severe intolerance foods, moderate your intake of mid-level triggers, and keep safe foods in rotation to support gut health, digestion, and symptom relief.
- 3RD PARTY STUDIED & DOCTOR RECOMMENDED. 5Strands is the only intolerance and sensitivity test independently validated through third-party research. Every sample is processed in our certified U.S. lab using a double-pass method for accurate results, and our testing has helped over 345,000 people and pets uncover their food intolerances and environmental sensitivities.
For food sold in the European Union
Look for a species name and a form description. Depending on the authorized ingredient, the label may name Acheta domesticus (house cricket), Locusta migratoria (migratory locust), or Tenebrio molitor (yellow mealworm). The required designation can differ for frozen, dried, whole, larval, or powdered forms. The EU’s consolidated Union list of novel foods, versioned August 20, 2025, sets out authorized designations and conditions; entries can be amended.
Check for an allergy notice
For EU-authorized insect foods, check near the ingredient list for any required allergy statement. The warning depends on the ingredient and its authorization, rather than applying uniformly to every insect food.
Rank #2
- AT-HOME KIT: One small hair sample. 1,000+ everyday items. A fast, non-invasive way to explore possible wellness signals related to foods, drinks, nutrients, household items, and general gut-wellness factors—right from home.
- WHY PEOPLE LOVE THIS: If you’ve ever been told “you’re fine” but don’t feel it, this may be your next wellness tool. Your interactive report highlights indicators and wellness connections that may help you understand what’s supporting you—and what may be holding you back.
- 3 STEPS. ZERO STRESS: 1. Register – Activate your kit in your customer portal. 2. Collect – Snip 10 strands of hair. 3. Mail – Use the prepaid return envelope included. Simple, fast, and designed for at-home convenience. Colored, body or facial hair accepted.
- 72 HOUR WELLNESS INSIGHT REPORT: Receive clear, color-coded wellness insights uploaded to your portal within 72 hours of sample receipt. Your interactive clickable report makes it easy to click and learn more about each item.
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For example, the EU authorization for partially defatted house cricket powder specifies the name “Acheta domesticus partially defatted powder” and requires a statement that it may cause allergic reactions in consumers with known allergies to crustaceans, molluscs and products thereof, and dust mites. The requirement appears in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/5. Other authorized insect ingredients may have different conditions and warning language, so check the exact product and applicable entry.
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If you have a food allergy, use the exact package label and seek advice from an appropriately qualified clinician for a personal decision. FDA advises people with food allergies to read labels; its guidance on food allergies and labeling is available on the FDA food-allergy page.
Rank #3
- UNCOVER FOOD INTOLERANCES & ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITIES CAUSING GUT & SKIN ISSUES. Symptoms like fatigue, acne breakouts, gas, diarrhea, and headaches are most likely not random or allergy-related - they’re often caused by hidden food intolerances and environmental sensitivities. Food intolerances occur when the gut microbiome can’t digest an ingredient correctly, and environmental sensitivities develop when your body has a negative response when exposed to specific items in your indoor and outdoor environment. Testing is the only way to pinpoint specific dietary and lifestyle triggers so you’re not left guessing.
- TESTS 658 FOODS & 282 ENVIRONMENTAL ITEMS. Your hair sample is tested against key food categories including dairy, veggies, fruits, grains, meats, seafood, nuts, sweeteners, spices, fats, oils, mushrooms, superfoods, drinks, and preservatives. It’s also tested against indoor and outdoor items including animals, grasses, trees, flowers, mold, pollen, chemicals, fabrics, insects, and lotions.
- HOW IT WORKS: 3 EASY STEPS. 1) Register your hair analysis test on the 5Strands website or mobile app. 2) Collect 10-15 strands of hair from anywhere on your body. 3) Send it to our lab using the included prepaid shipping materials. 3) Results will be emailed or sent to the mobile app dashboard within 4 days of receiving your sample.
- MAKE TARGETED DIET & LIFESTYLE CHANGES WITH YOUR RESULTS. Each item is placed into one of four severity levels, helping you understand which items are safe , and what to reduce, remove, and use in moderation. This establishes a defined list of items to begin a proactive elimination plan.
- TRUSTED BY HOLISTIC HEALTH EXPERTS WORLDWIDE. Independent 3rd-party research has verified the benefits of our intolerance and sensitivity testing for adults and children. Every sample is processed in our certified U.S. laboratory and analyzed twice to ensure consistent results. Our at-home tests have helped more than 345,000 people and pets identify their food triggers and environmental stressors.
Compare products by market and exact wording
When comparing two packages, use these details rather than judging by an unfamiliar name alone:
- Market: Identify the country where each product is sold. U.S. FDA declarations and EU novel-food designations are not interchangeable rule sets.
- Ingredient wording: Note the exact name on the package, including any form description.
- Species and form: Where an insect food is explicitly named, check which species and form the label identifies.
- Allergy notice: Read any adjacent warning and the allergy groups it specifies.
These labeling distinctions do not rank products by safety or quality. Rules in other countries may use different names and requirements; consult the local regulator’s labeling guidance when the product is sold outside the United States or EU.
Rank #4
- IDENTIFY WHAT FOODS & DRINKS MAY BE CAUSING INTOLERANCE SYMPTOMS. Gluten and lactose intolerances occur when the digestive system struggles to process foods within those categories like milk and bread, but these intolerances can happen with any food or drink too. If your food intolerances aren’t handled properly, symptoms like acid reflux, constipation, diarrhea, headaches, and weight gain can occur.
- TESTS 1030 FOOD & BEVERAGE ITEMS. Your hair sample is compared against 30 food and drink categories, including acidity regulators, anti-caking agents, beverages, dairy, emulsifiers, fats, flavor enhancers, food dyes, fruits, grains, herbs, legumes, modified starches, mushrooms, nuts, preservatives, processing aids, proteins, seafood, seasonings, spices, stabilizers, superfoods, sweeteners, thickeners, and vegetables.
- NON-INVASIVE HAIR SAMPLE COLLECTION WITH FAST RESULTS. 1) Register your test kit on our 5Strands website or mobile app. 2) Collect 10-15 strands of hair from anywhere on your body. 3) Mail the sample to our certified U.S. lab with the included shipping materials. 4) We’ll send the results to your email and mobile app within 4 days of receiving your hair sample.
- CLEAR ANSWERS TO START AN ELIMINATION DIET. Each food item is categorized by 4 response levels so you have a concrete starting point to eliminate trigger foods, consume mid-level food triggers in moderation, and keep safe-listed foods in your current diet. Consistent implementation of your results gives your gut microbiome the space to rebalance, promoting proper digestion while alleviating symptoms.
- INDEPENDENTLY VALIDATED & PHYSICIAN RECOMMENDED. 5Strands is the only food intolerance test of its kind supported by independent third-party research. Every sample goes through a double-pass process in our U.S. lab to ensure accuracy, and our testing has helped over 345,000 people and pets uncover their food intolerances.
What a label can—and cannot—tell you
An ingredient list is useful for checking what the package declares under the rules that apply in its market. It cannot independently prove that the declaration is complete, verify manufacturing controls, or reveal undeclared cross-contact. The cited FDA and EU labeling rules establish declaration requirements; they do not provide a consumer method for detecting undeclared ingredients.
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- 1100+ ITEM PET INTOLERANCE AT-HOME FUR SAMPLE INSIGHT KIT - Explore personalized pet intolerance insights to over 1100 foods, ingredients, nutritional items, environmental items, and pet care products. Designed to help pet owners better understand and organize ingredient-related information.
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