Confirmed that the state markets are free of it

«Food Safety» calls not to circulate the rumor «food with insects»

The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) has warned activists, influencers and users of social media platforms against transmitting and circulating any rumors or unreliable or official information that talks about the presence of foods, materials or food products that contain types or parts of insects, stressing that the country's markets are free of such products, calling on the public to investigate information from the official authorities in the country.

This came in response to the circulation of dozens of personal accounts on social media platforms and media outlets, recently, information and news warning the public against dealing with some European foods, after the European Union allowed a type of insect to be put on the market for food consumption, claiming to "move to a more sustainable diet", which called on the authority to move quickly to prevent the growth of such rumors.

SFDA stated on its official pages on social media platforms that food traded in the country's markets is subject to control in accordance with health requirements, technical regulations and approved standard specifications, stressing that the requirements of technical regulations and standard specifications are ensured by local regulatory authorities, especially with regard to food safety and health, through laboratory analyzes in accredited official laboratories that can accurately determine the source of protein.

The authority explained that the health requirements, technical regulations and approved standard specifications stipulate the need to ensure that food products are free of everything that violates the provisions of halal in Islamic law, noting that technical regulation No. «2055-1» on «halal food - Part <>: General requirements for halal food» stipulates that «all types of insects and worms such as ants and bees are non-halal foods, with the exception of only locusts and what cannot be guarded against, such as the parts of bees falling in honey».

She stressed that the entry of any food product containing insects or their extracts requires obtaining a "halal" certificate, which is issued based on fatwas from the competent authorities.

The European Food Safety Authority has approved the consumption of insects known as "flour beetles".