A decade ago, it was discovered that milk protein crystals in cockroaches contain proteins, fats, sugars and the essential amino acids — making it similar to mammalian milk. Further research found that this milk is energy dense, offering 4X the calories of cow’s milk.

Now an international team of scientists, at the Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine in Bangalore, is sequencing the genes of the milk protein crystals. The aim is to produce cockroach milk in large quantities, for human consumption.

How does it taste? Like nothing in particular, a researcher comments, but flavours can always be added…