While cockroaches are usually considered to be some of the most disgusting, undesirable pests around – it looks like they may soon be a major piece for the human diet. According to science studies from 2016, scientists have discovered that “a single crystal [of cockroach milk] is estimated to contain more than three times the energy of an equivalent mass of dairy milk.”
What this also means is that the cockroach milk happens to be one of the most nutrient-rich substances on Earth. Of course, you shouldn’t expect to be drinking it any time soon – there are still plenty of studies being done to make sure that it’s safe for human consumption. But if the studies ever state that people are okay to drink cockroach milk – then we can soon expect it to be a main ingredient in all current dairy products.
INSIDER took the time to speak with many different nutritionists on the subject after it became popular again in 2019, and they all seem to be in agreement that cockroach milk could become a big thing for human diets if it proves safe to drink.
“The reason people are so interested in cockroach milk is that it is a non-dairy milk alternative that is higher in protein than cow’s milk and rich in other nutrients,” registered nutritionist Jillian Kubala told INSIDER.
It’s not just cow milk that the cockroach milk has beat, however. It was previously believed that Buffalo milk was the most nutrient-rich milk on Earth – until the 2016 study proved cockroach milk was three times more powerful.
Of course, the process for actually milking the cockroaches is rather difficult. Barbara Stay, while speaking with NPR, gave a brief explanation of the process.
“You substitute a filter paper in the brood sac for the embryos and you leave it there [for a while before removing it].”
The concept is definitely a gross but interesting one if it were to continue to catch on with scientists, nutritionists, and the possibility of the entire dairy industry. But it all lies on the weight of whether or not it ends up being safe for humans to ingest – and so far, studies haven’t found a reason why it wouldn’t be.
Source: Nerdist