It’s just another Grubhub.
Singapore’s National Food Authority has approved 16 different insect species for consumption, ranging from grasshoppers to beetle larvae, and has redefined the term “mealworm.”
“The SFA (Singapore Food Agency) will allow the importation of insects and insect products belonging to species assessed as being of low regulatory concern with immediate effect,” the agency said in a press release, CNN reported.
“As the insect industry is at a nascent stage and insects are a new food in Singapore, the SFA has developed the Insect Regulatory Framework which sets out guidelines for approving insects as food,” the Singapore Food Agency said. Photo by CK Bangkok. – stock.adobe.com
The policy will allow the importation of the following insects for human food and animal feed:
Western honeybee/European honeybee Silkworm/Silkworm moth Dwarf bee Honeycomb moth/Dwarf bee Giant lovebird larvae Whitefly Mealworm Dwarf mealworm Superworm beetle/Giant mealworm beetle/King mealworm Grasshopper American desert locust/Desert locust African migratory locust Black cricket/Field cricket/Field cricket Striped cricket House cricket
The only caveat is that the insects cannot be “wild-harvested” and sellers must provide documentation proving that “the insects have been cultivated in a facility regulated by a competent authority” in accordance with the SFA.
This policy is similar to U.S. law which states that game restaurants are only allowed to serve game that has been raised on ranches or farms (hunted animals are not allowed).
Additionally, any insects not on the list will need to be tested to ensure they are safe for human consumption.
Singapore approves 16 edible species, from locusts to beetle larvae. oilslo – stock.adobe.com
Meanwhile, according to The Guardian, permitted insect-based imports include insect oils, fresh pasta containing insect parts, chocolate and other confectionery containing no more than 20% insect parts, salted, brined, smoked or dried bee larvae, marinated beetle larvae and silkworm pupae.
“Because the insect industry is in its infancy and insects are a new food here, the SFA has developed an Insect Regulatory Framework which sets out guidelines for insects to be approved as food,” the SFA said.
“The SFA (Singapore Food Agency) will allow the importation of insects and insect products belonging to species assessed as being of low regulatory concern with immediate effect,” the agency said in a press release.
Local restaurants already seem to be jumping at the chance to serve up hakuna frittata.
Singapore restaurant chain House of Seafood is preparing to serve 30 insect-focused dishes, from silkworm sushi to worm meatballs, that sound like something Bear Grylls might helm at a four-star restaurant.
Local insect protein seller InsectYumz will also be serving up a smorgasbord of insect food, including tom yum starlings and mealworms.
This isn’t just some Temple of Doom-style gimmick: experts believe entomophagy, or eating bugs, is becoming increasingly important as environmental concerns grow.
For starters, many insects are sustainable and nutritious; studies have shown that crickets contain more protein per pound than beef and require at least six times less feed, The Atlantic reports.
Crunching bugs may seem gross, but the practice is common in countries from Mexico to China, although in the United States there still seems to be some frown on the idea of grabbing food.
