Cockroach Milk
You may have heard of the term ‘superfoods’. They are foods that are very rich in nutrients such as vitamins and minerals, and offer multiple health benefits. Blueberries, broccoli and kale are some of the commonly known superfoods. A possible new entry to this group is… Cockroach Milk! Yikes! Let’s find out more.
A fascinating discovery
Insects such as cockroaches are egglaying animals and generally do not give birth to their young or produce milk.
However, the Pacific Beetle Cockroach (Diploptera punctata) is the only known cockroach to give birth to live young. Not only that, it also produces a milklike substance to feed its young. This ‘cockroach milk’ is a yellowish fluid that solidifies into crystals in the stomach of the young.
In 2016, a team of researchers in India conducted a detailed analysis of cockroach milk and made an amazing discovery. They found that cockroach milk is one of the most nutritious substances on earth! It is three times richer in calories than buffalo milk (which is currently the most calorie-rich milk produced by a mammal). The milk is also rich in protein, fat and sugar, making it a complete food.
A new superfood?
Some scientists believe that cockroach milk can be a great source of energy and nutrients for those who struggle to get sufficient nutrition, or those who are
on a dairy-free diet. The idea of drinking cockroach milk has disgusted many, while others seem to be fascinated.
Milking the benefits
However, there are several challenges standing in the way of mass-producing cockroach milk. Obviously, cockroaches cannot be ‘milked’ like cows. Also, each cockroach produces a very small amount of the milk, and extracting the crystals from the gut of the cockroach is not a viable or efficient option. A very large number of cockroaches would be needed just to produce one glass of milk. Some scientists believe that genetic engineering might be a way forward. Genes from the cockroaches can be put into yeast cultures, which may then be used to produce the milk on a commercial scale. Researchers are currently working on this.
Although in theory, cockroach milk can be considered to be a good alternative for regular milk, there is no evidence yet that it is safe for human consumption. But who knows, maybe one day, you will find yourself gulping down a cockroach milkshake!