Names to look for on labels
- insect flour
- cricket flour
- cricket powder
- house cricket
- acheta domesticus
- mealworm
- mealworms
- tenebrio molitor
- buffalo worm
- locust powder
What to do
Look for a halal logo, a "vegan" label, or a stated plant source on the pack. If none of these are present, you can contact the manufacturer and ask for the source.
More about insect protein
Insect protein is flour or paste made from ground insects, most commonly crickets, mealworms and locusts. It is high in protein and is sold in protein bars, pasta and snacks.
In the EU, dried yellow mealworm, migratory locust and house cricket have been authorised as novel foods.
Is insect protein vegetarian or vegan?
No. Insect protein comes from animals, so it is not vegetarian or vegan.
Why we classify it this way
Doubtful Locusts are named as permitted in the hadith literature. Scholars differ on other insects such as crickets and mealworms, and some Maliki scholars allow them. Your insect setting controls how it is shown.
Basis: Source or process not stated. It can be made from sources that change the ruling (for example pigs, an animal that was not slaughtered correctly, or alcohol), and the label does not say which.
No external reference is listed for this record yet.
Classification audited 3 November 2026. It has not been reviewed by a scholar. How classifications work · Suggest a correction
Frequently asked questions
Is insect protein halal?
Insect protein is doubtful (mushbooh). Locusts are named as permitted in the hadith literature. Scholars differ on other insects such as crickets and mealworms, and some Maliki scholars allow them. Your insect setting controls how it is shown.
Where does insect protein come from?
Dried insects such as crickets and mealworms.
Is insect protein vegetarian or vegan?
No. Insect protein comes from animals, so it is not vegetarian or vegan.