Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has received representations on the potential merits of introducing insects into the human diet.

In 2021, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) commissioned an online survey to understand consumer awareness and perceptions of alternative sources of protein, including edible insects. 50% of respondents perceived edible insects as safe to eat, 26% were willing to try edible insects, and 37% were willing to try edible insects if they were ground into food for added protein. A full report of the survey is available on the FSA website at the following link:

https://www.food.gov.uk/research/behaviour-and-perception/survey-of-consumer-perceptions-of-alternative-or-novel-sources-of-protein

In Great Britain, edible insects are considered novel foods and so food businesses that wish to sell them need to submit an application for a safety assessment by the FSA and Food Standards Scotland, before they can be placed on the market. There are, however, transitional arrangements in place for four species following our exit from the European Union, those being: the yellow mealworm; the house cricket; the banded cricket; and the black soldier fly. These species can remain on sale until a decision on each application is made. Information on these arrangements is available on the FSA website at the following link:

https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/edible-insects-guidance

The FSA is in regular contact with companies submitting applications for the use of edible insects in or as food.