LISTEN: Would you drink cockroach milk?
This is not a belated April Fool's but a real superfood on the rise.
Eating insects is nothing new.
Some countries might find the idea of eating creepy crawlies slightly disturbing, but insects are not just an enjoyable and tasty snack but a delicacy in many areas of the world.
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From mopane worms to crickets and more, insects have long formed part of the human diet.
You can find a complete list of all the edible insects in the world here.
According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), it is estimated that two billion people currently consume insects as part of their diets.
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Edible insects are highly nutritious and often contain high-quality protein, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
Various sources have also stated that insects could be essential to curbing global warming and are more sustainable than many other food sources.
The FAO says that "insects have a high food conversion rate—crickets need 12 times less feed than cattle, four times less than sheep, and half as much feed as pigs and broiler chickens to produce the same amount of protein."
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While eating whole, crushed, or other variations of insects are quite normal, would you be willing to eat some insect byproducts?
Humans love cheese, milk, and yoghurt; the list goes on, so insect milk and cheese are the next steps.
In case you didn't know, certain cockroach species produce a milk-like substance that is considered a superfood.
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Usually, when you hear the term, you think of berries and powders, but cockroach milk is the latest foodstuff to be praised for its high nutritional value.
Researchers have been studying the Pacific beetle cockroach (Diploptera punctata) and, in 2016, found that it contains three times the calories of buffalo milk, which was previously the most calorie-rich mammalian milk.
This species does not lay eggs but gives birth to live young and to nourish its embryos. The mother secretes a pale yellow, milk-like fluid in her brood sac.
Sounds delicious.
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As it turns out, cockroaches are responsible for one of the most nutrient-dense substances on earth.
It is packed with proteins, amino acids, fats and sugars, making it a complete source of essential nutrients.
Researchers also believe this milk could be an innovative future food source that is much more sustainable than traditional dairy farming.
Unfortunately for those looking to buy their jug of cockroach milk for their next bowl of cereal, it might be a while before it is ready for human consumption.
In principle, it should be fine. But today we have no evidence that it is actually safe for human consumption.
Rozanne McKenzie recently tried a few insect-based dishes for the first time, and the team decided to put together a list of all the edible grubs they would be willing to try.
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Main image courtesy of iStock