Are People In Florida Drinking Cockroach Milk? Here’s What It Is:

If you thought Florida had seen it all when it comes to strange food trends, think again. While oat, almond, and soy milk continue to line grocery store shelves, scientists are now talking about a new kind of milk—and it comes from one of Florida’s least-loved residents: the cockroach.

It may sound like something out of science fiction, but cockroach milk is real. And surprisingly, it’s packed with nutrients.

Yes, Cockroaches Can Produce Milk

Cockroach milk isn't exactly the kind you pour into your cereal. Only one species—the Diploptera punctata, a Pacific beetle cockroach that gives birth to live young—produces this milky substance. Researchers discovered that this cockroach generates nutrient-rich crystals to feed its offspring, and those crystals are loaded with protein, amino acids, and healthy fats.

In fact, cockroach milk contains three times more calories than buffalo milk, which previously held the title for the most energy-dense milk known to science.

A Scientific Curiosity, Not a Grocery Staple

The idea of “milking” a cockroach may sound absurd, but it has been done. Barbara Stay, a professor emerita at the University of Iowa, was one of the first to successfully extract the milk, either in liquid or crystal form. Another study out of India’s Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine even involved a researcher tasting the milk, which reportedly has no strong flavor.

Still, this isn’t something you’ll be adding to your latte anytime soon. Despite its impressive nutritional profile, cockroach milk isn’t widely produced, and researchers have not confirmed whether it's safe or practical for human consumption on a large scale.

Could It Be the Future?

With Florida’s growing interest in health trends and alternative diets, it’s possible that cockroach milk could one day be explored further in wellness circles. However, given the challenges in harvesting it—and the general public’s understandable hesitation—it remains a scientific talking point rather than a real food option.

So while you might be sipping coconut water or oat milk on a hot Florida afternoon, you can now impress your friends with this surprising fact: cockroaches, as unwelcome as they may be, are capable of producing one of the most nutrient-rich substances on the planet.

But for now, maybe just leave the cockroaches outside—milk and all.

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