Chocolate Allergy and Cockroaches
April 5, 2012
A lot of individuals who have allergies to chocolate are not actually reacting to cocoa or any other official ingredients of chocolate, for that matter. A series of research has indicated that such allergic reactions are may be caused by ground cockroach parts that have contaminated the chocolates. Gross!
In accordance with ABC News, a typical chocolate bar may contain eight insect pieces. The Food and Drug Administration considers it safe for every 100 grams of chocolate to have fewer than 60 insect parts.
Allergy experts claim that the majority of foods normally contain contaminants. Chocolate is not the only one in this. Aside from chocolate, cockroach pieces are also present in the manufacturing of wheat, popcorn, cheese, fruit, macaroni, and peanut butter. These bits and pieces could bring harmful effects on individuals suffering from asthma. Also, they could cause itching, cramps, as well as migraines to certain people.
The first reported cockroach allergic reaction was in the year 1943. However, skin testing intended for cockroach allergies started in 1959. The treatment for this specific allergy includes allergy shots containing some trace amounts of cockroach.
An allergist at Mount Sinai School of Medicine named Morton Teich said that contamination by cockroaches, as well as their droppings, is inevitable given that it occurs at the source of the cocoa beans — the farms in which they have been cultivated. They would need to use more pesticides for total prevention of contamination. Of course consuming pesticides is actually much worse compared to the consumption of a few little bug pieces.
According to Teich, it's almost impossible to eat foods that are 100% free of insects. If you're looking to go absolutely insect-free, then you would need to stop eating completely.
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