The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has appealed to all Edible Insects dealers including the popular grasshoppers commonly known as Nsenene in Uganda to seek certification to ensure safety of their products for public consumption.
UNBS says this is in line with its mandate of developing, promoting and enforcing standards in protection of public health and safety, and the environment against dangerous and sub-standard products.
In March 2022, UNBS launched the Edible Insects Standard, US 2146:2020 Edible Insects –Specification, in collaboration with Makerere University School of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bio-Systems Engineering (Food Science) with support from the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), to facilitate commercialization of edible Insects.
The standard, US 2146:2020 Edible Insects –Specification, specifies the requirements, sampling and test methods for edible insects which include Grasshoppers (Nsenene), White Ants, Termites, Crickets, among others.
According to Sylvia Kirabo, the Principal Public Relations Officer at UNBS, the standard is aimed at promoting safe consumption of edible insects which are harvested, processed and traded on the Ugandan Market.
“The quality assurance measures within the standard involve analysis of unwanted biological and chemical substances which may contaminate the insects during the process of harvesting, processing, packaging or transportation,” said Kirabo in a statement on Monday.
UNBS urged the Public Health Inspectors to be vigilant and ensure that edible insects traders do not contaminate the insects during processes harvesting, processing, packaging and transportation.
UNBS also urges consumers to be vigilant when buying edible insects for consumption, and report traders suspected to be dealing in substandard edible insects or dubious harvesting, processing, packaging and transportation of edible insects practices.
The latest requirement comes as the Bureau continues to implement its mandate of ensuring consumer protection and fair trade in Uganda.
