You Are Not Allergic To Chocolate Or Coffee, But To Cockroaches

chocolate cockroach

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Updated Oct 18, 2024 | 04:00 PM IST

SummaryDo you like drinking coffee or a cup of hot chocolate, then you may be surprised to know that it has insect parts, including cockroaches. Those of you who are allergic to this drink, there is some hope, you are not allergic to coffee or chocolate, but to cockroaches.

Are you a morning person or a night owl? Whatever it may be, coffee always helps. Whether it is to keep you awake late at night or to help you freshen up for an early morning shift. Coffee always comes in handy. As winter is approaching, you might be thinking of hot chocolate Christmas nights, or a Halloween outing with marshmallow and chocolates. Or, if you are into fitness, how could you not love the protein chocolate bars?

All of this just reminds you of the amazing taste, but did you know it also has a secret ingredient? That ingredient is cockroach.

Some people, who love coffee or chocolates, sometimes complain of feeling lightheaded, or other allergic reactions. However, the reason may not be the coffee or the chocolate, it could be the cockroaches.

Coffee, Chocolates, And Cockroaches

A University of Montana biology professor Douglas Emlen in a 2009 interview with NPR journalist Terri Gross talked about his research on dung beetles. In the interview, he recalled his time as a student. He said that he would drive across the country with his professor who wanted coffee every couple of hours. This was during the 80s, when coffee shops were not around every corner and his professor only wanted whole fresh ground coffee. So, travelling from one part of the town to another in search of good coffee occupied most of their time. Upon asking the reason, his professor told him it is because of the cockroaches.

Emlen revealed that his professor was teaching entomology and handling cockroaches. This is how he became allergic to them. He also started to notice the same allergic reaction whenever he had pre-ground coffee.

After doing some digging he found out there are cockroaches in coffee.

How Do Cockroaches Make Their Way To Coffee And Chocolates?

When cocoa beans are stored in factories before being processed to make coffee or chocolates, they get infested with cockroaches. There is nothing to do to filter them out, so cockroaches are roasted and grounded with the beans.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows coffee beans to contain up to 10% insect filth and insects. As per ABC News, the average chocolate bar contains eight insect parts. FDA allows anything less than 60 insect pieces per 100 grams of chocolate, which is around 2 bars of chocolates.

cockroach parts make their way to peanut butter, macaroni, fruit, cheese, popcorn and wheat. People with asthma can be affected, other symptoms are migraines, cramps, itching or hives.

When Was the First Cockroach Allergy Reported?

The first cockroach allergy was reported in 1943. The skin testing for cockroaches began in 1959. Allergist at Mount Sinai School of Medicine agrees that contamination by cockroaches and their droppings is unavoidable because this happens at the source of cocoa beans, where it is produced at the farm.

If you are having an allergic reaction to coffee or chocolates, you can be treated with anti-allergic shots or antibiotics. However, it is always advisable to seek a doctor's advice.

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