Singapore approved 16 insects as a food source for human beings — becoming the most recent country to authorize such products for human intake, in what experts described as a move that ‘will pave the way for dishes to become more sustainable, leggier, and wrigglier’ as well as as ‘an indication of things to come.’
In a recent announcement, the SFA (Singapore Food Agency) approved 16 insects, which are the mealworm and silkworm pupa ‘With instant effect.’
The SFA added that those insect products and insects may be utilized as animal feed for food-producing animals or human consumption.
Entities and countries like the U.K. (United Kingdom), the EU (European Union) and Australia have also approved some insect products for humans to eat. But in the United States, existing regulations have few references that specifically address insects.
That regulatory gap allowed an ecosystem of “alternative protein” start-ups to get into the insect food marketplace — with the backing of people like Bill Gates, as well as government agencies that include the U.N. (United Nations), National Science Foundation (NDF), and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
FAO, the United Nations (Food & Agricultural Organisation) continuously promotes insect intake as an eco-friendly method of getting protein into your diet — for both human beings as well as their livestock, according to sources.
Proponents of insect products as food for human beings, which includes the Food & Agricultural Organisation, argue that this is going to assist in fighting climate change, as insect products generate a smaller carbon footprint than regular livestock. However, critics disagree with this viewpoint.
According to the founder of Door to Freedom and internist Dr. Meryl Nass, the justification for insect products includes producing protein utilizing fewer inputs: to save our planet by decreasing methane from cows, decreasing climate change, and causing less pollution. However, just because it’s protein does not mean that it is good for humans.
Dr. Nass stated that parasites might be spread by insect products, there could be challenges in digesting insects, as well as people experiencing allergies to chitin — typically found upon an insect’s exoskeleton.
According to Dr. Nass, lax United States FDA (Food & Drug Administration) regulations, under which most insects may be categorized as Generally Regarded as Safe (GRAS), means that they do not require testing and allows the Food and Drug Administration to “turn a blind eye” to the situation. It opened up the door for insect food sources to reach humans.
According to Nass, it could take generations before we could know whether or not these foods are safe for human consumption.
According to Elze van Hamelen, a Dutch journalist, using insect-based ingredients for pet food additionally poses a health risk, citing a 2019 study finding parasites within 244 of 300 investigated pet stores and insect farms.
‘Feeding pets using parasite-infested bugs, particularly pets that don’t have the physiology to digest them, might not be a good idea,’ van Hamelen stated.
The doctor cited two Sustainable Development Goals: Sustainable Development Goal 12, “Ensure sustainable consumption & production patterns” and Sustainable Development Goal 2, “End hunger, achieve food security & improved nutrition & promote sustainable agriculture.”
‘Sustainability’ equals code language for forced behavioral modifications and a coerced decrease in consumption, added Rectenwald.
Nass added that the United Nations, in conjunction with WEF (World Economic Forum), ‘promote the Sustainable Development Goals, which may supposedly be met if our diets are changed.’ However, Nass adds that ‘we do not see the United Nations or World Economic Forum attendees consuming bugs in their meetings.’
Nass implied that one of the reasons behind the shift to insect-based foods as food includes ‘causing emotional harm: to downgrade, debase, and degrade humans’ and that beef is potentially “being demonized,” to ‘weaken our species.’
‘The concept tends to be to eliminate small producers, as well as develop a completely industrialized system of food generation that PepsiCo, ConAgra, and Cargill can profit from,’ Nass added.
‘Gates says his investments in alternative proteins include saving our planet,’ one source said. ‘What Bill Gates doesn’t say is that they’re a part of a plan to monopolize the protein sector — for profit — as Gates lobbies to do away with animal-based competition.’
Australia, U.K. E.U. and others approve bugs for consumption
United KIngdom authorities approved 4 insects for humans to eat — black soldier fly, banded cricket, house cricket, and yellow mealworm, as “novel foods,” whereby Australia approved 3 species: a cricket and two types of mealworm.
According to the Food and Agricultural Association there are over 1,900 “edible bug species.” But, insects do not seem to be included within their Codex Alimentarius — its international guidelines for food safety.
‘Nudging’ the general public to accept the situation
Multiple studies, including a 2022 report by Germany’s environmental agency UBA, a YouGov poll from 2021 and a report by the European Consumer Organisation from 2020 suggested low demand among the general public for the consumption of foods that contain bugs.
Other research from 2020 and 2022 implied that humans would be more willing to change their minds after being told of the ‘eco-friendly benefits’ of consuming bugs.
The research from 2020 implied that “nudging” — a behavioral science idea supported by the NSF (National Science Foundation) — might be used to that end. The study added that ‘As human beings are an especially social species, leveraging their social nature might prove to be especially useful.’
The owner of TOR Royal, Lies Hackelbracht, a bug production business in Belgium, stated that right now, ‘When we’re 9 billion people and counting, it won’t be possible to allow everyone to consume meat; therefore, we must look for other types of possibilities with lots of protein and it may be in plants; however, it also may be in bugs.’
I personally must move to say that the Bible does allow for some insect consumption. Leviticus 11:20-23:
20 “All winged insects that walk on all fours are to be detestable to you. 21 But you may eat these kinds of all the winged insects that walk on all fours: those that have jointed legs above their feet for hopping on the ground. 22 You may eat these:
any kind of locust, katydid, cricket, and grasshopper.
23 All other winged insects that have four feet are to be detestable to you.
So, whether or not you make the decision to consume bugs is your personal choice, or will it be…in the future?
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