Singapore has approved 16 insects to eat as food: here’s everything you need to know

Fried silk worms pupas in Thailand. Silk worms are among the species on Singapore’s list of insects approved for human consumption. Photograph: Engdao Wichitpunya/Alamy

Singapore has taken the leap and approved 16 species of insect as safe for human consumption.

Creatures to make the grade in the view of the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) include crickets, grubs, moth larvae and one species of honeybee. The agency says it has taken this decision simply because the insect industry is “nascent and insects are a new food item here”.