Chocolate Allergies Linked to Roaches

Cockroach Contamination in Food

Are you allergic to chocolate? Or could it be a reaction to an unintended ingredient in the chocolate?

It has been suggested that people with a chocolate allergy are not actually allergic to cocoa or any of the other official ingredients in chocolate. Instead, what they might be having a reaction to is cockroach parts!

You may be surprised to discover that there are at least eight insect parts in the average chocolate bar. And it’s not the only food that’s full of legs and antennae. Peanut butter, cheese, popcorn and cereal usually contain some amounts of a cockroach.

FDA Approved Levels of Contamination

In fact, the FDA allows 60 insect parts per 100 grams to be safe for human consumption. That’s roughly two chocolate bars.

Allergists agree that most foods contain contaminants of some sort. So are we allergic to chocolate or the little-added extras? According to some studies, doctors state that roach parts can affect people with asthma and can also cause migraines, cramps, itching, and hives in groups of people who are allergic to them.

How do Cockroaches Get Into Chocolate?

The contamination begins when cocoa beans, one of the main ingredients in chocolate are harvested.

Preventing cockroaches at the source would require the use of more pesticides which experts agree would pose more health risks than a few bug parts. Insects are after all just another source of protein and in some cultures is often a part of a family’s daily diet.

Cockroaches are found all over the world and considered to be one of the most resilient insects on the planets.

Cockroaches can survive for up to a month without food and they can also survive up to 45 minutes without oxygen.

Studies suggest that 78-98% of all urban homes have roaches to some degree. Once a home becomes infected the roaches quickly multiply. It has been estimated that an infested home or building can contain as many as 330,000 insects.

Free Pest Inspection

Cockroach Prevention Tips

Where do Roaches Hide?

Cockroaches like to live where food sources are plentiful, especially warm moist areas. They prefer a warm hiding place:

Under the sink
In the wall and floor cracks
Between stacks of newspapers or books

How can You Protect Yourself and Your Family From Cockroaches?

Keep food in containers with tight lids and never leave food out.
Clean up spilled drinks or crumbs immediately.
Wash dirty dishes right away, don’t leave pet food out once your pooch has finished eating.
Keep countertops, sinks, stove, tables etc. clean and clutter free.
Repair leaky faucets and other moist areas.
Take old newspapers, cardboard boxes and other paper items to a recycling center.
Vacuum or sweep the kitchen floor after meals.

Cockroaches can be very difficult to destroy and usually require the assistance of a professional exterminator.

Professional Cockroach Control

Croach® is the expert when it comes to cockroach control and our cockroach treatment plan begins with an inspection of your house and property for the source of the infestation.

Once our highly trained and qualified technicians locate the entry points to the home, we then put together a customized roach control plan. Our treatment plans typically include baiting and crack and crevice applications.

The secret to removing cockroaches from a home is to end their reproductive cycle. To do this, our technicians find them at their source and exterminate the infestation using environmentally safe pest control products.

If you notice roaches or any other pests or rodents in or around the home, pick up the phone and call Croach® today and ask to speak to a customer service professional who can schedule an appointment with an experienced technician right away.