Previous studies by scientists have discovered that there is a type of cockroach that secretes protein crystals to feed the larvae. The protein crystals are rich in nutrients and are called "cockroach milk."
Recently, the topic of cockroach milk rushed into hot searches. Some netizens expressed their expectation, and some netizens said that "you will come out for lunch", and some people think this is a gimmick.
What exactly is "cockroach milk"?
Really edible?
Today’s Million Village Classroom invited Zhu Yi, an associate professor at the School of Food Science and Technology of China Agricultural University, to give us a comprehensive interpretation.
Q1: What is cockroach milk?
[Concurrent] Zhu Yi, Associate Professor, College of Food Science, China Agricultural University
There is only one special type of cockroach, the viviparous cockroach, which has the ability to produce milk. The ordinary Xiaoqiang that we often see that cannot be killed does not have this ability. Among so many varieties of cockroaches, the only one A unique kind of cockroach called the winged cockroach, it can produce a kind of secretion, crystal-like, similar to what we understand milk, cockroach milk is such a thing.
Q2: Is it true that the online transmission of "rich nutrition" is true?
[Concurrent] Zhu Yi, Associate Professor, College of Food Science, China Agricultural University
It has 1,000 cockroaches to get 100 grams of cockroach milk.
Its nutritional value is very high, which should mean that the nutrients are very comprehensive. It has the main nutrients of protein, fat and sugar. At the same time, it has a high nutrient density. That is to say, when the unit volume is the same, its protein The higher the content, the higher the calories and the higher the sugar.
Q3: Is it possible for cockroach milk to become food?
[Concurrent] Zhu Yi, Associate Professor, College of Food Science, China Agricultural University
From a nutritional point of view, cockroach milk can indeed be used as a potential food for an excellent source of protein. This is the first point and it is certain.
The current research results of scientists also support this conclusion.
The second point is that cockroach milk is obtained from nature and is operated purely by hand, so it is quite difficult. It can only be used as a sample of scientific research, and cannot become a drink that the public can drink. It's also affirmative.
Third, if cockroach milk is expected to enter the market in mass production, it still has a long way to go.
Because this is a kind of food that humans have never eaten before, it is called a new resource food, so strict risk assessment and risk management must be carried out, and finally (after passing) it can become a kind of human food.
Q4: Under what circumstances will it be treated as food?
[Concurrent] Zhu Yi, Associate Professor, College of Food Science, China Agricultural University
I personally think that cockroach milk can be used as a role in science fiction, and that human beings are in a special habitat, extreme habitat, as a saturated, high-calorie, high-nutrient food, and supply under special circumstances.
Q5: What should the public think of cockroach milk?
[Concurrent] Zhu Yi, Associate Professor, College of Food Science, China Agricultural University
Cockroach milk is indeed very promising to become a member of the new resource food family, but there is something to eat, something not to eat, something to do, and something not to do.
If we have not reached that point, we will regard it as a member of a new resource food reserve. It is most appropriate to look at it with a mentality like this.
Reporter Jean Baokui reports from Beijing
Editor in charge: [Lu Yan]