Customers at eateries in Singapore might soon have the opportunity to enjoy consuming insects. This could include glutinous rice balls topped with plump silkworms and crunchy crickets served on sushi rolls. Singapore might be on the verge of permitting the sale of specific insects for people to eat.
Channel News Asia reported that Singapore could allow the sale of certain insects as food as early as next month, quoting restaurants and potential farms that have been informed of the latest development.
The authorisation for selling insects for human consumption has been postponed for over a year.
The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) held a public consultation on regulating insects and insect products at the end of 2022. In April of the following year, the agency announced that 16 species of insects, including crickets, silkworms, and grasshoppers, would be approved for consumption in the second half of 2023.
Earlier this year, the SFA stated that it is finalising the implementation details and plans to introduce a regulatory framework in the first half of this year.
“We will work closely with food business operators to ensure that they are able to meet SFA’s regulatory requirements before insects and insect products are permitted for sale as food for human consumption in Singapore,” it said.
According to the report, the legislation will likely be tabled in Parliament soon.
Insect suppliers said they had been briefed by the SFA, according to the report.
Amid increasing frustrations among businesses wanting to sell insects as food, the number of insect farms closing due to lengthy approval processes has risen.
The United Nations, Food and Agriculture Organisation, has been advocating for the farming of insects as a source of human food and animal feed due to their sustainability as a protein source.
Insects such as crickets, grasshoppers, and mealworms are high in protein and also contain antioxidants and essential minerals like iron, zinc, copper, and magnesium.
The report mentioned that strict measures will be implemented to guarantee the safety of the insects for eating. These measures involve the requirement for the insects to be raised in a tightly controlled setting and not gathered from their natural habitat in order to avoid the spread of illnesses, pollutants, and pests.
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