Dubai: Dubai Municipality has launched a specialised laboratory to detect insect residues in food products, including protein derived from mealworm larvae and house crickets.
The announcement was made on Monday at the opening of Gulfood 2026 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
The new laboratory is located at the Dubai Central Laboratory and is equipped to identify insect-based ingredients quickly and accurately, officials said.
The facility is currently operating in a pilot phase and is expected to become fully operational in the first quarter of 2026, after which it will begin receiving food samples for testing.
Officials said the move comes as global food markets increasingly explore alternative protein sources due to climate change and pressure on natural resources.
In recent years, international regulations have allowed the use of certain insects as food ingredients, including yellow mealworm larvae and house crickets, prompting the need for stronger food testing and monitoring.
Dubai Municipality said the new lab will help ensure food safety, transparency, and compliance with international standards as new food products enter the market.
In 2025, Dubai Municipality inspected nearly 580,000 food consignments as part of its food safety monitoring efforts.
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