16 insect species, including different species of crickets, mealworms, grasshoppers, locusts, and silkworms, were approved for human consumption on Monday by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA). Industry insiders who have been anticipating this moment for a long time have been ecstatic about the announcement. The agency said in a circular addressed to processed food and animal feed traders,''With immediate effect, SFA will allow the import of insects and insect products belonging to species that have been assessed to be of low regulatory concern.
These insects and insect products can be used for human consumption or as animal feed for food-producing animals." The Straits Times reports that Singapore's caterers and suppliers are getting ready to purchase insects from licenced plantations in China, Thailand, and Vietnam. According to SFA guidelines, imported or locally cultivated insects must follow stringent food safety regulations to prevent their collection from the wild.
According to the SFA, in order to guarantee that a species is safe for human consumption, any insect that is not on its list of 16 must be evaluated. Additionally, businesses that sell pre-packaged food that contains insects must mark the packaging on the product as such. If they are discovered to be in violation of its food safety guidelines, they will not be permitted for sale.
In the meantime, a number of cafes and restaurants are getting ready to serve new dishes that feature insects in the hopes of boostin.
