Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health has banned eating insects, saying that they are not halal and should not be eaten.
— وزارة الصحة العامة (@MOPHQatar) February 2, 2023
The Ministry of Public Health in Qatar released a statement on social media saying that insects as food are now banned. This came after the European Union passed new regulation approving certain insects into the food chain for consumption. This new regulation means that snacks made from insects like crickets and mealworms can be made, sold, and eaten across most of Europe. However, Qatar made it clear that insects and bugs or protein and supplements extracted from them for consumption are banned, citing religious reasons.
The Ministry said,
“In reference to what is being circulated about some countries’ decision to approve the use of insects in food production, the Ministry of Public Health stresses that it bans food products containing insects in the markets for not meeting the requirements of Halal food technical regulations”.
“The Ministry of Public Health verifies compliance with the halal requirements through Islamic bodies accredited by the Ministry, and through international-accredited laboratories to determine the source of protein contained in food products accurately”.
Shockingly, trillions of insects are killed per year, for food and for animal feed. But, perhaps what is even more surprising is the fact that, according to recent studies, insects can apparently feel pain, contrary to what many people had thought. And, with the increase in demand for insect-based alternatives to traditional animal agriculture, insect farming is at an all-time high. Science X examined 300+ studies and discovered that there is evidence that some — if not all — insects feel pain in some form. Although Qatar’s reasoning was not because of animal welfare, we are happy that insects will be spared under the regulation.
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