Is Cockroach a Superfood? Separating Fact from Fiction

October 14, 2025 •

3 min read

While the thought may be unappealing to many, over 2 billion people worldwide already include insects in their diet. Among the most unexpected contenders, scientists have investigated a substance derived from a specific cockroach species, prompting the question: is cockroach a superfood?.

Quick Summary

A specific type of cockroach milk has shown exceptional nutritional density in laboratory studies, but commercial production is not feasible. Consumption of common pest cockroaches carries serious health risks due to bacteria and pathogens. Farmed insects are a safer and more sustainable alternative, though cultural aversion remains a major hurdle.

Key Points

Not a Consumer Product: Cockroach milk from the $Diploptera punctata$ species is not commercially available due to production challenges.
Common Pests are Unsafe: Eating common cockroaches is dangerous due to harmful bacteria and allergens.
Sustainable Alternative: Farmed insects like crickets and mealworms are safe and nutritious sustainable food sources.
Environmental Benefits: Raising edible insects is more sustainable than traditional livestock.
High-Quality Nutrition: Farmed edible insects provide protein, healthy fats, and essential micronutrients.
Consumer Acceptance is Key: Cultural stigma is a major hurdle for adopting insect-based foods.

The Buzz Around Cockroach 'Milk'

The idea of a cockroach as a superfood originated from a 2016 study on the Pacific beetle cockroach ($Diploptera punctata$). This unique species, which gives birth to live young, creates a highly nutritious, milk-like substance for its embryos. Researchers discovered this substance forms protein crystals in the embryos' stomachs. Lab analysis showed these crystals are packed with proteins, fats, and sugars, making them exceptionally nutrient-dense. They are reported to be three times more calorie-dense than an equivalent amount of buffalo milk and are rich in essential amino acids, releasing nutrients slowly, leading some to consider them a potential superfood.

Why Cockroach 'Milk' Isn't on Supermarket Shelves

Despite its impressive nutritional profile, cockroach milk is not a viable consumer product. The main challenge is the difficulty of harvesting it. Obtaining a small amount would require killing thousands of these specific, non-pest cockroaches, which is labor-intensive and unsustainable. Due to the significant effort and cost, any large-scale use would likely involve genetically engineering yeast to produce these protein crystals in a lab, rather than extracting them directly from roaches. Currently, it remains a scientific concept rather than a practical food source.

The Hazards of Common Cockroaches

It is crucial to differentiate between research on the Pacific beetle cockroach and common household pests. Everyday cockroaches pose significant health risks and are absolutely not safe to eat. They are known carriers of bacteria, pathogens, and parasitic worms acquired from unsanitary places like sewers and garbage.

Health Risks from Eating Pest Cockroaches

Food Contamination: Common cockroaches can spread dangerous bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli onto food, surfaces, and utensils, leading to severe foodborne illnesses.
Allergenic Reactions: Cockroach waste and shed skin are major indoor allergens that can trigger or worsen asthma and allergies, particularly in children.
Secondary Poisoning: Consuming a contaminated pest could expose a person to insecticides or other chemical residues.

Farmed Edible Insects: A Safer and More Sustainable Alternative

While common cockroaches are unsafe, entomophagy – the practice of eating insects – offers a safe, sustainable, and nutritious protein source. Insects farmed specifically for human consumption are raised in clean, controlled environments with regulated diets, removing the risk of contamination.

Some popular edible insects include:

Crickets ($Acheta domesticus$): Often processed into high-protein flour.
Mealworms ($Tenebrio molitor$): Another common species used whole or as flour.
Black Soldier Fly Larvae ($Hermetia illucens$): Increasingly used for human food.

Comparison: Edible Insects vs. Traditional Livestock

Comparing farmed edible insects to traditional livestock reveals their potential as a sustainable superfood alternative.


Feature	Farmed Edible Insects	Traditional Livestock (Beef/Pork)
Protein Content	High.	High.
Environmental Impact	Significantly lower water and land usage, reduced emissions.	High resource consumption and emissions.
Feed Conversion	Highly efficient.	Lower efficiency.
Edible Portion	Up to 80% or more.	Smaller percentage used for meat.
Food Safety	Controlled farming ensures hygienic conditions.	Established regulations and standards.
Bioactive Compounds	Source of antioxidants and prebiotic fiber.	Generally not a significant source.

Conclusion

Regarding the question, is cockroach a superfood?, the answer is generally no for common pests. While a substance from one specific cockroach species shows high nutritional value in studies, it is not currently feasible for human consumption. Eating common household cockroaches is very dangerous due to the pathogens they carry. The real potential lies in farmed edible insects like crickets and mealworms, which offer a safe, sustainable, and nutritious protein source that could help address global food challenges. Overcoming cultural aversion is a key factor for their wider acceptance.

Learn more about the potential of edible insects as a sustainable food source from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Frequently Asked Questions

While unpleasant, it may not be immediately dangerous for a healthy person, but there is still a risk of ingesting harmful bacteria or pathogens that could cause illness.

Cockroach milk is a nutrient-dense protein crystal from the Pacific beetle cockroach ($Diploptera punctata$). It is considered a potential superfood due to its high nutritional content, reportedly three times more calorie-dense than buffalo milk.

Commercial production is not feasible because harvesting the protein crystals requires killing thousands of roaches for a small yield, making it labor-intensive and unsustainable.

Farmed insects provide high-quality protein, healthy fats, essential amino acids, and vital micronutrients like iron and B12.

Farmed insects require significantly less land and water, produce fewer greenhouse gases, and have a higher feed-to-protein conversion rate than livestock.

Yes, common household cockroaches can spread bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli and parasitic worms, causing foodborne illnesses.

No, only specifically farmed, pathogen-free insects are safe to eat. Common pest cockroaches should be avoided due to the risk of contamination and insecticides.