No, this article isn’t about how crunchy and delicious cockroaches are (especially if they are deep fried). It’s about a recent discovery a team of scientist at India’s Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine made in regard’s to their milk. It’s more than four times as nutritious as cow’s milk and, the researchers think it could be the key to feeding our growing population in the future.
It’s not what you think though, cockroaches don’t have utters like cow or a nice beautiful rack, sorry Edgar the Bug, no motorboats for you.
Around 10 years ago, it was discovered that the stomachs of a particular type of cockroach contain milk protein crystals. This cockroach (Diploptera punctata) is the only known viviparous cockroach, meaning it gives birth to live young, which is fairly bizarre for an insect. Just like mammals, they have to feed their young with a “milk” containing protein crystals, and these crystals were found to hold a crazy amount of protein. A single crystal is estimated to contain more than three times the amount of energy found in an equivalent mass of dairy milk.(Source).
The crystals are like a complete food — they have proteins, fats and sugars. If you look into the protein sequences, they have all the essential amino acids – Sanchari Banerjee
Researchers are currently working to sequence the genes so they can be reproduced in a lab and eventually be on your local supermarket shelf. Can’t wait for the BOGO deals!
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