According to the Associated Press, Tuesday's decision came after the EU's food safety agency published a scientific opinion earlier this year that said the larvae of the Tenebrio molitor beetle are safe to eat.

A regulation authorizing mealworms as food is expected to be passed in the coming weeks, which means it can soon be found in markets and restaurants in 27 EU countries.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization characterizes insects as "a healthy and highly nutritious food source containing high amounts of fat, protein, vitamins, fiber and minerals," AP reported.

Worms can be eaten whole or in powder form, as an ingredient in a protein-rich snack or other food, the AP reports.