LITTLE ROCK, Ar (KTHV) -- The FDA's regulations concerning "foreign objects" in some of your favorite foods may surprise you.
Insects parts and rodent hairs may not be something you think about when you purchase your groceries or make your dinner, but Yahoo! Health reports there's more in your food than you think.
Bugs like aphids, mites, and fruit flies are just some of the bugs that could be in what you eat.
When it's time to eat--most of us reach for something tasty and, hopefully, nutritious. A scan of the ingredients and nutrition label is a habit of many shoppers. But you may not know EVERY ingredient you're about to devour.
"Aphids are small soft bodied insects that, ya know, for the most part--if ingested would just add a little protein to your diet. It's nothing to be concerned or worried about." says John Hopkins.
That's right--he said aphids. Hopkins is an Extension Urban Entomologist for U of A extension service. He knows his bugs.
The Food and Drug Administration regulates the ingredients of the nation's favorite foods...and they say certain levels of insect parts are acceptable!
"Well? It's not a pleasant thing to think about but ...It's not a health hazard!" says Hopkins.
You may not know it---and definitely don't seek it out--but some of your favorite foods could easily contain mites, caterpillars and maggots.
Hopkins says "And I know EVERYBODY has seen the survivalist shows on television where the guy has the big knife and he goes up to the log and chops it open and pulls out the grub and --makes a meal out of it! So, they're edible. They're not harmful."
So much so that many cultures CHOOSE to eat insects as a staple or a delicacy. Food processing plants go through strict cleaning--probably more than the average person does in his own kitchen!
"And THAT takes care of probably 99.9999999 % of whatever might have been on that raw commodity to begin with and they're washed away and don't present a problem."
Still...knowing your favorite snack can legitimately have creepy crawlies in it-- may be enough to give anyone a "stomach bug."
FDA Guidelines/Handbook