US health regulators will let honeybees eat cholesterol

US health regulators are considering a new rule that would allow cholesterol to be added to honeybee food. This means beekeepers could use cholesterol as a nutrient source for their bees, potentially improving bee health.

Honeybees need sterols for growth and reproduction, but they cannot make cholesterol themselves. Beekeepers currently rely on pollen as the primary source of sterols, which can be inconsistent or unavailable. This change would give beekeepers a new, consistent way to supplement their bees' diet.