By Joanie Bergh
The term “superfood” usually brings to mind leafy greens, berries and nuts – foods prized for their high nutritional value. But researchers have found that cockroach milk is even more nutrient-dense than many fruits, vegetables, and even cow’s milk.
Scientists studying the Pacific beetle cockroach (Diploptera punctata) discovered that the milk this species produces to feed its young is remarkably nutritious.
It contains three times the amount of energy found in buffalo milk, which is higher in calories than full-cream cow’s milk. According to an article published on the UK-based Independent online news site, the milk is also rich in proteins, amino acids, fats and sugars – making it a complete source of essential nutrients.
“It’s time-released food,” says Dr Subramanian Ramaswamy, the lead author of a study into cockroach milk at the Institute for Stem Cell Science and Regenerative Medicine in Bangalore, India. “If you need food that is calorifically high, that is time-released and that is complete, this is it.”
Not any cockroach
Unlike most other cockroach species, the Pacific beetle cockroach does not lay eggs – it gives birth to live young. To nourish the developing embryos, the mother secretes a pale-yellow milk-like fluid into a brood pouch. This fluid crystallises in the stomachs of the offspring, forming small, glistening crystals rich in protein.
It was these crystals that caught scientists’ attention due to their remarkable nutritional profile.
Why cockroach milk isn’t on shelves yet
Cockroach milk is an unusually nutrient-rich non-dairy alternative – but despite its promising nutritional profile, several significant hurdles remain.
To begin with, although it is packed with nutrients, it is also extremely high in calories. One cup (250 ml) of cockroach milk contains about 700 calories, more than four times the amount found in the same volume of full-cream cow’s milk. Regular consumption could therefore contribute to weight gain.
Public perception is another major obstacle. For many, the idea of drinking milk derived from cockroaches is deeply unappealing. That said, a researcher involved in the 2016 study that first brought cockroach milk to public attention tasted it, and described it as having “no particular taste”.
Safety is also a concern. So far, no studies have confirmed that cockroach milk is safe for human consumption.
Then there are the ethical issues. According to a co-author of the 2016 study, producing a single glass of milk would require killing thousands of cockroaches.
Perhaps the most significant barrier is production. Extracting tiny quantities of milk from individual cockroaches is both impractical and inefficient, making large-scale manufacturing infeasible.
Given these challenges, cockroach milk is unlikely to become widely available anytime soon.
Sources: Healthline; The Independent
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