Singapore has approved 16 species of edible insects for sale and consumption, including locusts, grasshoppers, mealworms, and beetles, as per a July 8 public circular by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA). Insects can now be imported if they are deemed low regulatory concern and farmed in regulated premises, but not harvested from the wild.
Insects are packed with essential nutrients and are considered a sustainable, high-protein alternative to traditional livestock. Popular in other parts of Southeast Asia, like Thailand and Cambodia, insects offer a new culinary adventure for Singapore’s diners. Local chefs and food companies are already exploring dishes like salted egg crabs with superworms and insect-based protein bars.
SFA’s new framework aims to guide the safe introduction of insects as food, potentially transforming Singapore's culinary scene with this unconventional protein source.
