Is It Safe to Eat Fly Eggs?

Some people may wonder if it is safe to eat fly eggs. They can cause food poisoning or even diarrhea. However, if you do eat them, you must be careful and follow some precautions. First of all, avoid consuming them when they are still warm. Also, avoid leaving them out in the open. If you must cook them later, keep them in the refrigerator or cover them with a lid.

Fruit flies carry bacteria such as listeria and E. coli. These diseases can be life-threatening and can even put you in the hospital. It is not recommended to eat fly eggs unless you are eating rotten fruit. Moreover, eating fly eggs may cause internal myiasis, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea. For this reason, it is recommended to cover exposed fruit or vegetables and wash them thoroughly before eating them. Despite all these precautions, it is not recommended for most people to eat fly eggs intentionally.

While it is not safe to eat fly eggs, the FDA allows certain quantities of these bugs in food. However, the level is low and likely lower than the amount that you would eat. A single fig paste, for example, can have up to 13 insect heads per 100 grams. Similarly, a single 8-ounce cup of fruit juice can contain up to five fruit flies.