Punjabnewsline, Chandigarh:
Singapore's food regulator on Monday approved 16 species of insects such as crickets, grasshoppers and locusts for human consumption, joining the internationally renowned menu of global foods including Chinese and Indian cuisine in the multi-ethnic city-state.
The much-awaited announcement has come as a cheer for industry players who have been arranging supplies and catering to Singapore for insects grown in China, Thailand and Vietnam, according to a report.
The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has said that those intending to import or cultivate insects for human consumption or livestock feed must comply with the SFA's guidelines, including providing documentary evidence that the imported insects have been raised in regulated establishments with food safety controls and have not been caught from the wild. Insects not included in the SFA's list of 16 must undergo assessment to ensure that the species are safe to eat, the agency said.
Companies selling pre-packaged foods containing insects will also have to label their packaging so consumers can make informed decisions about buying the product. Insect products will also be subjected to food safety testing and those found not to be compliant with the agency's standards will not be allowed for sale, the SFA said. A UN report on the safety of lab-grown meat cited Singapore as the only country to sell them.
The SFA launched a public consultation in October 2022 on the possibility of allowing 16 species of insects for consumption. In April 2023 the SFA said it would give the green light for the consumption of these species in the second half of 2023. This deadline was later extended to the first half of 2024.