Edible insects are a promising sustainable protein source to meet rising global nutritional needs, owing to their high resource efficiency, low environmental impact, and favorable feed conversion ratios. Food safety remains a critical concern for industry expansion, with allergenic risk representing a major challenge. Primary prevention requires identification of key allergens and limiting exposure, underscoring the importance of effective detection and mitigation approaches. Robust regulatory frameworks for insect farming and processing are also essential to ensure consumer confidence and safe consumption. This review consolidates currently documented edible insect allergens and their sensitization mechanisms, critically assesses existing allergen detection technologies, and evaluates processing methods for reducing allergenicity. Furthermore, it examines regional regulatory frameworks and market safety. Despite market growth, consumer acceptance remains limited; improving sensory properties and incorporating insects into processed foods may enhance adoption. Tropomyosin and other major allergens can induce either primary or cross-reactive sensitization. Available detection methods are discussed with their respective advantages and limitations, while processing techniques are shown to partially lower allergenicity. Specific regulations exist in the United States and European Union, though the absence of such standards in China currently constrains domestic market development. By providing an integrated analysis of detection, mitigation, and regulatory policies, this review supports the safe and sustainable growth of the edible insect market.

Polyphenol is a kind of natural active substance with immunoregulatory activity. In this study, the immunoregulatory activities of Sargassum carpophyllum polyphenol (SCP) on the allergic reactions induced by shrimp tropomyosin were investigated. As the results, the SCP performed high hyaluronidase inhibition ability, which even greater than sodium chromoglycate (an anti-allergic medicine). SCP was able to affect the allergic reactions of RAW 264.7 macrophage cells via regulating the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1/2 (JNK1/2), extracellular regulated protein kinase 1/2 (Erk1/2) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cellular signaling pathways, weakened the degranulation degree and secretion of interleukin-4 (IL-4), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and histamine, and promoted the secretion of interleukin-10 (IL-10) from RBL-2H3 mast cells. In BALB/c mouse model assay, after gavage of SCP, the mouse allergic symptoms got significantly alleviated, the cytokine (IL-4, IL-10 and interferon-γ (IFN-γ)) secretion of mouse spleen lymphocytes were significantly declined and the allergic lung damage was relieved, which indicated SCP performed strong both in vitro and in vivo anti-allergic functions. Therefore, SCP could serve as candidate anti-allergic bioactive substances for shrimp induced allergy via immunoregulation.