Cockroach Milk: A Promising Superfood or Nothing but Hype?

Cockroach milk is a protein rich, crystallized substance produced by a specific type of cockroach called Diploptera punctata (1).

This species is unique because it gives birth to live offspring. Members make “milk” in the form of protein crystals to serve as food for their developing young (1).

In recent years, scientists have discovered that this milk-like crystalline substance is nutritious and considered a complete food, as it’s a good source of protein, carbs, and fats.

Additionally, cockroach milk is considered a complete protein source, as it provides all nine essential amino acids ⁠— the building blocks of protein that can only be attained through your diet (2).

This fact is important because most non-meat foods lack one or more of the nine essential amino acids, which is why cockroach milk has gained buzz as a nondairy milk alternative (2).

However, harvesting this milk-like substance is currently a labor-intensive process. It involves killing a female cockroach and her embryos once it begins to lactate and then harvesting the crystals from its midgut (3).

According to one of the co-authors of a popular study on cockroach milk, it’s currently infeasible to mass-produce cockroach milk. The co-author estimates that it would take killing more than 1,000 cockroaches to make just 3.5 ounces (100 grams) of the milk (3, 4).

Summary

Cockroach milk is a protein rich, crystallized substance produced by the Diploptera punctata cockroach as a source of nourishment for its young. Although it’s very nutritious, it’s difficult to mass-produce.

Currently, there is limited research on the health benefits of cockroach milk. As such, this section explores its potential benefits based on its composition.

High in nutrients

Cockroach milk has gained buzz as a superfood due to its nutritional content.

In fact, lab research has shown that it’s more than three times as nutritious as cow’s milk, buffalo milk, and human breast milk (2).

Given that cockroach milk isn’t commercially produced, general nutritional information is unavailable. However, a 1977 lab analysis showed that it comprises the following (5):

• 45% protein
• 25% carbs
• 16–22% fat (lipids)
• 5% amino acids

Moreover, analyses have shown that the milk is a good source of other nutrients, such as oleic acid, linoleic acid, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and short- and medium-chain fatty acids (2, 5).

Also, it’s a nondairy milk alternative that is a complete source of protein, providing all nine essential amino acids. This is rare in non-meat foods, as they tend to lack one or more of them, making cockroach milk a unique alternative.

May be an option for people with lactose intolerance or milk allergies

Lactose intolerance is a common condition that affects 65% of people worldwide (6).

It’s caused by a deficiency in lactase — an enzyme that digests lactose, the sugar in dairy products. Symptoms of lactose intolerance include diarrhea, bloating, stomach pain, nausea, and gassiness after consuming dairy products (6).

Because cockroach milk is a nondairy product, it’s naturally lactose-free. This means it could be a suitable alternative for people with lactose intolerance or an allergy to cow’s milk.

That said, note that there is no shortage of lactose-free dairy milk options that are nutritionally equivalent to cow’s milk and well tolerated by those who have difficulty with lactose.

What’s more, it’s rich in key nutrients, such as protein and fatty acids, which tend to be found in lower levels in nondairy milk products. This may make cockroach milk a desirable alternative to cow’s milk from a health perspective (2).

Summary

Cockroach milk is very high in nutrients and lactose-free, making it a theoretically suitable nondairy milk alternative.

Though cockroach milk is a unique nondairy milk alternative, it has several downsides.

For starters, although it’s nutritious, it’s very high in calories.

One cup (250 ml) of cockroach milk would contain around 700 calories. That’s more than three times the number of calories in a cup of regular cow’s milk.

That means consuming too much cockroach milk could lead to weight gain.

In addition, there’s currently no research demonstrating that cockroach milk is safe for human consumption. So vulnerable populations, such as children and pregnant women, should avoid consuming it (7).

Moreover, cockroach milk isn’t the most ethical drink. According to a co-author of the famous cockroach milk study, making just a single glass of the drink would involve killing thousands of cockroaches (4).

Lastly, cockroach milk is not currently readily available and unlikely to become affordable in the future given the difficulty involved in producing it. Plus, many people would find the idea of drinking cockroach milk unappetizing.

Summary

Cockroach milk has several downsides. It is very high in calories, backed by limited research, and quite unethical and difficult to produce. Thus, it’s not commercially available.

Cockroach milk is a milk-like, protein rich, crystalline substance produced by cockroaches of the Diploptera punctata species.

It serves as nutrition for their young, but humans can harvest this milk by killing female cockroaches and extracting it from their midgut.

Dated lab analyses from 1997 show that cockroach milk is incredibly nutritious, providing plenty of carbs, fat, vitamins, minerals, protein, and all nine essential amino acids. Plus, it’s lactose-free.

That said, it has been poorly researched and is unlikely to become commercially available. Thus, it cannot be recommended as a nondairy milk alternative. The buzz around this product is just hype for now.