Total replacement of dietary fish meal with black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae does not impair physical, chemical or volatile composition of farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.)

Background: The aquafeed sector has been replacing the conventional dietary ingredients with more economic and eco-friendly ingredients. Insects embody a promising answer for being highly nutritious and for showing traits leading to a circular bioeconomy. Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) at sea-water stage was fed diets with a partial or complete substitution of fishmeal with meal of Hermetia illucens larvae reared on a media containing Ascophyllum nodosum mixed with organic wastes (60:40). The present study aimed to assess the quality of fillets by characterizing its physico-chemical traits with conventional and innovative methods, such as proton transfer reaction-time of flight-mass spectrometer (PTR-ToF-MS) technique, allowing to analyze samples at room temperature. Finally, steamed fillets underwent a consumer test to enquire the liking of consumers and their intention of re-consumption. Results: Our main findings showed that a complete dietary substitution of fishmeal with H. illucens larvae meal did not impair the physico-chemical quality of A. salmon fillets. Notably, neutral n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) slightly but significantly increased in the fillets of A. salmon fed H. illucens, also due to the additional fish oil present in the diets containing insect. The volatile organic profile was not altered by the different diets. The consumer liking test revealed that Italian consumers appreciated the tested salmon irrespective of the administered feed. Conclusions: Tailoring the insect fatty acid profile by rearing the larvae on a PUFA-rich substrate, coupled with a dietary modulation of the oily source, can successfully maintain or even increase the cardioprotective characteristics of fillets.