Why Can't You Eat Cicadas? Key Health Risks and Precautions Explained

December 26, 2025 •

4 min read

Did you know the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued warnings regarding cicada consumption? While often touted as a novel protein source, there are critical health reasons explaining why you can't eat cicadas, especially if you have a shellfish allergy or certain health conditions.

Quick Summary

This guide details potential health risks and safety precautions for eating cicadas, including shellfish allergy cross-reactions, contamination from pesticides and heavy metals, and who should avoid them entirely.

Key Points

Shellfish Allergy: The shared tropomyosin protein in cicadas can trigger severe allergic reactions in individuals with shellfish allergies.
Environmental Contamination: Cicadas can absorb pesticides, fertilizers, and heavy metals like mercury from the soil, posing health risks if collected from chemically treated areas.
Risks for Vulnerable Groups: Pregnant women, young children, and people with gout are advised to avoid cicadas due to potential harm from mercury bio-accumulation or gout flare-ups.
Infection from Pathogens: Raw or improperly cooked cicadas can carry parasites or pathogens, making thorough cooking a necessity.
Digestive Upset: Eating too many of the insects, particularly their hard exoskeletons, can lead to gastrointestinal distress, especially in pets.
The 'Ick' Factor: For many, cultural norms and personal aversion are sufficient reasons to avoid eating cicadas, and that is perfectly acceptable.

The Hidden Risks of Eating Cicadas

While the idea of harvesting and cooking cicadas during their emergence may seem like a fun and adventurous culinary experience, it comes with significant health risks for certain individuals and requires strict safety protocols for everyone else. The notion that all cicadas are safe to eat is a misconception. From hidden allergens to environmental hazards, understanding these dangers is crucial before anyone considers indulging. This article outlines the primary reasons why caution is a necessity and why some people can't eat cicadas at all.

The Shellfish Connection: Why Your Allergy Matters

One of the most important reasons some people cannot eat cicadas is their close biological relationship to shellfish, such as shrimp and lobster. As arthropods, cicadas share a common protein known as tropomyosin, which is the same allergen responsible for most shellfish allergies. The FDA has specifically warned that people with a known shellfish allergy should avoid eating cicadas due to the risk of a severe allergic reaction. Even if there is no history of shellfish allergy, it is possible to develop a reaction from consuming cicadas, as shellfish allergies can manifest later in life. Symptoms can range from mild hives to life-threatening anaphylaxis.

Environmental Contamination: A 17-Year Problem

Cicadas spend a significant portion of their lives—13 to 17 years for periodical species—underground, feeding on the roots of trees. During this time, they act as bio-accumulators, absorbing whatever chemicals are present in the soil, including pesticides, fertilizers, and heavy metals. Eating cicadas from a well-manicured suburban lawn, for instance, could expose someone to potentially harmful chemicals used in pest control or weed killers. Foragers are advised to collect cicadas only from wild, untreated areas to minimize this risk. Similarly, older neighborhoods with potential lead paint contamination in the soil pose a heightened risk.

Vulnerable Groups Who Should Never Eat Cicadas

Certain populations are advised to avoid cicada consumption entirely due to heightened sensitivity or specific health conditions. The following table compares the risks for different groups.


Group	Primary Risk	Explanation of Harm	Precautions
Shellfish-Allergic Individuals	Severe Allergic Reaction	Can trigger an allergic response due to shared protein (tropomyosin), potentially leading to anaphylaxis.	Avoid cicadas completely.
Pregnant/Lactating Women	Mercury Contamination	Cicadas can accumulate mercury from the soil, which can be harmful to a developing baby's brain.	Do not consume cicadas.
Young Children	Mercury and Exoskeleton Issues	Similar mercury concerns as pregnant women; hard exoskeletons can also be a choking hazard or cause digestive issues.	Do not feed cicadas to children.
Individuals with Gout	Gout Flare-ups	The purine content in cicadas may trigger inflammatory arthritis flare-ups.	Avoid consumption during cicada emergences.
Pets (Dogs and Cats)	Digestive Upset/Blockage	Consuming too many of the hard exoskeletons can cause gastrointestinal distress, vomiting, or blockage.	Monitor pets and limit intake.

Digestive Concerns and Safe Preparation

Even for healthy individuals without known allergies, there are still risks associated with improper preparation. Eating raw cicadas is not recommended due to the potential for environmental pathogens and parasites. Thorough cooking is essential to eliminate any harmful bacteria that the insects may carry. Additionally, consuming large quantities can overwhelm the digestive system, leading to uncomfortable symptoms like nausea and diarrhea. Experts suggest properly cleaning and cooking cicadas before eating them.

Here are some key steps for safe preparation, assuming no pre-existing risks apply:

Collect newly molted cicadas (teneral stage): These have a softer exterior, are more tender, and less likely to carry heavy contamination.
Harvest from organic areas: Collect only from areas free of pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemical treatments.
Freeze humanely: Place collected cicadas in a paper bag and freeze them for at least 30 minutes to humanely kill them.
Blanch and clean: Before cooking, blanch the cicadas in boiling water for one minute to sanitize them.
Cook thoroughly: Ensure the cicadas are cooked completely, whether by frying, roasting, or baking, to eliminate any remaining pathogens.

Avoiding the "Zombie" Cicadas

A less common but fascinating reason to be cautious is the presence of a specific fungal infection that turns cicadas into "zombies". The fungus Massospora cicadina replaces the cicada's abdomen with a plug of spores, causing the insect to spread the infection while still alive and mating. While this fungus is not known to be harmful to humans, it's certainly not something anyone wants to accidentally ingest. Infected cicadas can often be identified by their abdomen falling off. Avoid collecting and eating any cicadas that appear visibly infected.

Conclusion: The Final Verdict on Cicada Consumption

The question of "why can't you eat cicadas?" is not a blanket prohibition but a warning tailored to specific health conditions and environmental factors. For most people, cicadas are not toxic and can be a sustainable, high-protein food source when properly harvested and cooked. However, the critical takeaways involve recognizing personal health risks, including potential shellfish allergies, and being mindful of where the cicadas lived for over a decade. Proper cleaning and cooking are non-negotiable. For many, the simple answer is that the risks—be they allergic, environmental, or related to vulnerable health—outweigh the novelty. Therefore, for some, the choice to abstain is the safest and wisest one to make. For more health-related insights, consider consulting authoritative sources like the Cleveland Clinic.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, if you have a shellfish allergy, you should not eat cicadas. Cicadas are arthropods, like shrimp and lobster, and contain the same allergenic protein, tropomyosin, which can cause a severe allergic reaction.

Pregnant and lactating women should avoid cicadas because the insects can accumulate mercury from the soil during their underground life. This can potentially harm a baby's developing brain.

It depends on how the yard has been treated. If the lawn has been exposed to pesticides, fertilizers, or other chemical treatments, you should not eat cicadas harvested from there. It is best to forage from wild, untreated areas.

While generally low risk, wild-caught cicadas can carry environmental pathogens or parasites. It is important to cook them thoroughly to eliminate any potential health risks, as eating them raw is not recommended.

Some cicadas can be infected with the Massospora cicadina fungus, which replaces their abdomen with a plug of spores. These are sometimes called 'zombie' cicadas and should not be consumed, even though the fungus is not known to harm humans.

Eating too many cicadas, especially their hard exoskeletons, can cause digestive upset in pets like dogs and cats, leading to vomiting or diarrhea. Ingesting very large amounts can cause a blockage.

Yes, eating a large number of cicadas can lead to digestive discomfort, such as an upset stomach or diarrhea, especially if anyone is unaccustomed to eating insects.

People who have or are at risk for gout should avoid eating cicadas, as the insects' purine content can trigger flare-ups of the inflammatory condition.