Do Cockroaches Taste Like Chocolate?
WouterThe FDA has approved some chocolates containing cockroaches. This allows a small percentage of the insects to be included, but a higher percentage would be illegal. The FDA does not allow any chocolates to contain more than 60 cockroach pieces per 100g. That’s about two standard chocolate bars.
There is an ethical dilemma with this, though. Some people may feel that eating cockroaches would be unethical. However, the fact of the matter is that insects are an excellent source of protein and essential nutrients. There are even some species that eat cockroaches for their protein content. In any case, eating a small percentage of cockroaches will not negatively impact your health.
It’s unlikely that any cockroach fragments would actually get into a chocolate bar, however. This is because cockroaches are not intentionally added to chocolate. The only way to ensure that you’re not inadvertently eating cockroaches is to choose chocolate that doesn’t contain cockroaches. In fact, cockroaches aren’t even listed as an ingredient on chocolate boxes, which makes them even less likely to make it to your grocery store.
While this might not be an option for all people, some cultures consider eating cockroaches to be a delicacy. This doesn’t necessarily mean they will harm you, though – after all, cockroaches are actually an alternative protein source to shrimp. Cockroaches are commonly cultivated in farms for their protein content, and they can be eaten in many ways, including as a substitute for shrimp in stir-fry recipes.
