Locusts are a sought-after delicacy in some regions of the Kingdom. However, experts are cautioning against its consumption as they could be poisonous. Adnan Al-Khan, Director of the Saudi Center for Locust Control and Research at Ministry of Agriculture, said: “Today, locusts are not safe to eat as they were in the past days because most infested areas have been sprayed with insecticides to combat the swarms, and therefore eating locusts could be poisonous.” He stressed that even if locusts are sold alive, it doesn’t mean that they were not treated with pesticides. Al-Khan said that so far about SR 12 million have been spent on the purchase of insecticides to combat locust swarms. He said efforts were made to control the sale of locusts in the Kingdom’s northern regions but it led to the emergence of a locust black market and pushed the prices to one of their highest levels. One bag of locusts was being sold at over SR 5,000. He pointed out that they had tried to prevent the sale of locusts in the Kingdom's northern regions; but this led to the emerging of locust black market and pushed the prices to one of their highest levels, as locust bag sold for over than SR5,000. Al-Khan stressed that the pesticides used by the Saudi Center for Locust Control and Research are safe and reliable, and approved by the World Health Organization (WHO). Its usage is also allowed by the Food and Drug Administration; however such insecticides when exposed to high temperature during boiling or roasting the locusts, may disintegrate and produce other substances which are dangerous and toxic to humans. Dr. Ali Ashaqi, expert and consultant in environmental issues, said anyone who eats locusts for a period of seven to 10 days might expose himself to pesticides, and in turn, to major health problems that might be fatal. Source: Arab News