Dubai Municipality has unveiled a new food testing laboratory at Gulfood 2026 that can detect insect protein and insect residues in food products. The specialised facility at the Dubai Central Laboratory uses advanced tools to check samples quickly and accurately. It is now in a pilot phase and will start full testing in the first quarter of 2026. The initiative comes as global food makers explore insects like mealworms and crickets as alternative protein sources. Officials say this lab will help protect consumers, support food trade and strengthen Dubai’s food safety system.