Dear chava-ga;
Thank you for allowing me an opportunity to answer your interesting question.
Caterpillars, grubs and maggots are larvae (infant insects). Like any
infant, maggots cannot reproduce until they reach maturity and become
adult flies. Even then it would not be likely assuming the flies had
been thoroughly chewed and exposed to destructive stomach acids.
Tell your friends to relax. There is no need to be concerned that the
maggots they ingested will reproduce in their stomachs. It simply
isn?t possible. In fact, in many cultures more palatable larvae such
as caterpillars and grubs are commonly eaten raw and live without
concern. Maggots, while probably not as pleasing a thought for a
source of fine cuisine, are no different. The only exception would be
if the maggots themselves had eaten something that would, in itself,
be toxic to a human (pesticides, lead, poisoned animal tissue,
something containing botulism, etc). Since maggots are only maggots
for a few days and lack the mobility to have been elsewhere, it isn't
likley that they would have eaten anything other than what was
contained in the box of crackers.
This may come as a surprise to you but the government actually ALLOWS
a certain amount of maggots and their byproducts in our everyday food
before it considers the food contaminated. Here is just one example of
what is permitted:
KOSHER QUEST
(An excerpt from Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service,
Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied
Nutrition, Washington DC)
?MUSHROOMS: Insects Average of 20 or more maggots of any size CANNED &
(AOAC 44.115 per 100 grams of drained mushrooms and DRIED & 44.116)
proportionate liquid or 15 grams of dried mushrooms OR Average of 5 or
more maggots 2 mm or longer per 100 grams of drained mush- rooms and
proportionate liquid or 15 grams of dried mushrooms?
http://www.kosherquest.org/bookhtml/DO_YOU_KNOW_WHAT_YOU_ARE_EATING.htm
So, in truth, we eat maggots all the time. What a lovely thought, huh?
Bon appetit!
Below you will find that I have carefully defined my search strategy
for you in the event that you need to search for more information. By
following the same type of searches that I did you may be able to
enhance the research I have provided even further. I hope you find
that that my research exceeds your expectations. If you have any
questions about my research please post a clarification request prior
to rating the answer. Otherwise, I welcome your rating and your final
comments and I look forward to working with you again in the near
future. Thank you for bringing your question to us.
Best regards;
Tutuzdad-ga
INFORMATION SOURCES
METAMORPHOSIS
http://www.creationscience.com/onlinebook/LifeSciences42.html
KOSHER QUEST
http://www.kosherquest.org/bookhtml/DO_YOU_KNOW_WHAT_YOU_ARE_EATING.htm
SEARCH STRATEGY
SEARCH ENGINE USED:
Google ://www.google.com
SEARCH TERMS USED:
Maggots cannot reproduce
Fly larva cannot reproduce
Fly larvae cannot reproduce |
