Locusts in your noodles? Singapore approves 16 insect species as food

Locusts in your noodles? Singapore approves 16 insect species as food


Silkworm chrysalis.

Dukai Photographer | Moment | Getty Images

From locusts to superworms to honey bees, Singapore has approved 16 species of insects for human consumption.

“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,” the Singapore Food Agency said in a statement.

The agency said the following list of approved bugs can be imported for both human consumption and animal feed for food producing animals.

  1. Western honey bee/European honey bee
  2. Silkworm/silk moth
  3. Lesser wax moth
  4. Honeycomb moth/greater wax moth
  5. Giant Rhino beetle grub
  6. Whitegrub
  7. Mealworm
  8. Lesser mealworm
  9. Superworm beetles/giant mealworm beetle/king mealworm
  10. Grasshopper
  11. American desert locust/desert locust
  12. African migratory locust
  13. Black/field cricket/two-spotted cricket
  14. Common/field cricket
  15. Banded cricket
  16. House cricket

Some local restaurants and retailers have already made plans to add insects to their offerings.

Sustainability-focused Gastrobar Fura had said it would feature insect proteins on its menu following SFA approval. Insectyumz celebrated the approval and said it would import, distribute and sell a range of edible insects. Seafood restaurant House of Seafood also introduced a selection of “intriguing insect dishes” alongside its current menu.

Singapore’s food agency acknowledged that the country’s insect industry is “nascent” and that the critters are a new food item in the city-state. But in announcing a regulatory framework for edible insect imports, the SFA emphasized its priority was ensuring the safety of food consumed in Singapore.

Edible insects on a bowl of rice.

Aflo Images | Aflo Images | Getty Images

The guidelines stipulate that the insects cannot be harvested from the wild and must be manufactured in regulated premises. SFA said that in its consideration of new insects for consumption, they must have a documented history of consumption as food outside of Singapore.

The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization has promoted insects as alternative protein sources which are also more sustainable as their cultivation emits less greenhouse gases than traditional animal livestock.

“Edible insects contain high quality protein, vitamins and amino acids for humans,” the FAO said, adding that insects require less feed than sheep or cattle to yield an equivalent amount of protein.

The SFA noted that other countries already allow insect consumption, including Australia, South Korea, Thailand and the European Union.



Source

How to play one of the hottest regions in the world for stocks
World

How to play one of the hottest regions in the world for stocks

Any way you slice it, Latin American stocks have been on fire this year. The iShares Latin America 40 ETF (ILF) has rallied more than 25% in just the first half of 2025, far outpacing the S & P 500’s 5% gain. Many country specific benchmarks and ETFs are doing even better so far this […]

Read More
Powell confirms that the Fed would have cut by now were it not for tariffs
World

Powell confirms that the Fed would have cut by now were it not for tariffs

US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell testifies during a House Financial Services Committee hearing on “The Federal Reserve’s Semi-Annual Monetary Policy Report” on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on June 24, 2025. Saul Loeb | Afp | Getty Images Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Tuesday that the U.S. central bank would have easier monetary […]

Read More
Banks say Trump’s ‘big beautiful bill’ could boost the U.S. economy – despite deficit concerns
World

Banks say Trump’s ‘big beautiful bill’ could boost the U.S. economy – despite deficit concerns

The U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” — or officially, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — is a controversial piece of legislation, but some banks are in favor of it, saying it’s the shot in the arm the economy needs. It was advanced […]

Read More