Are UK Edible insects illegal ?

When the Food Standards Agency (FSA) erroneously banned edible insects after Brexit, it created widespread confusion and disruption across the sector.

Businesses that had invested heavily in sustainable protein production suddenly faced legal uncertainty, with products pulled from shelves and supply chains left in limbo. The ban left entrepreneurs and retailers unsure whether they could continue trading, while consumers who had embraced insect-based foods as an eco-friendly alternative to meat were left puzzled by the sudden prohibition. The lack of clear communication and consistency with EU rules deepened the sense of frustration, undermining trust in regulators and stalling momentum in what had been a growing, innovative market. The Food Standards Agency, having confirmed the ban, see the official communication below, two year later reversed it claiming it had “made a mistake”..

However as of August 2025, the FSA, although allowing some insects to provisionally remain on the market, has made no progress in assessing and fully approving any edible insect specie for the UK market.

See here more information about the provisional approval status of edible insects in the UK in 2025