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Don’t Eat Cicadas If You Have A Seafood Allergy, FDA Says

Author Laila Abuelhawa
Magicicada periodical cicadas, members of Brood X, cluster on a plant at Fairland Recreational Park June 01, 2021 in Burtonsville, Maryland. Billions of periodical cicadas are emerging from the soil in the eastern United States and Midwest to molt, mate, lay eggs and die after living underground for 17 years.

Cicadas might seem like a tasty snack, and they’re packed with protein, but people with seafood allergies should think twice about eating them, according to the US Food and Drug Administration.

The FDA tweeted yesterday, “Yep! We have to say it! Don’t eat #cicadas if you’re allergic to seafood as these insects share a family relation to shrimp and lobsters.”

As we , trillions of Brood X cicadas emerged for the first time in 17 years in 15 states and you can harvest and eat these critters. These cicadas spend most of their lives underground and come out for at least 3-4 weeks for a massive mating season. Many people have turned to eating them when looking for alternative ways to consume protein while reducing their carbon footprint — insects emit fewer greenhouse gasses and can boast more protein than meat.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, cicadas aren’t harmful to humans, pets or gardens. If cats or dogs eat them, though, “this may temporarily cause an upset stomach or vomiting, but there is no need to worry if a pet eats a small number of cicadas.”

Cicadas are not dangerous and can provide some environmental benefits including a valuable food source for birds and other predators, aerate lawns and improve water filtration into the ground and add nutrients to the soil as they decompose.

“Cicadas don’t sting or bite. Cicadas are not toxic,” the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine said in a tweet last week. But their “crunchy/crispy exoskeleton can irritate the stomach lining if eaten in large volumes and can be a potential choking hazard, especially for small dogs.”

Twitter users had some mixed reactions to the FDA’s warning:

@banditelli wrote, “Can’t believe you posted such a delicious bug and told me not to eat it! SAD!”

One user offered to correct the FDA’s tweet, insisting “Don’t eat #cicadas.” It didn’t take long for an interested cicada-taster to reply, “I’ve hear they’re good and if I see one I’m gonna fry it.”

@deangloster had the best pun:

https://twitter.com/rick_mullin3/status/1400156863531003907?s=20

https://twitter.com/SolomonAtlee/status/1400194464316944386?s=20

https://twitter.com/Angry_PhD/status/1400151029597884417?s=20

If you aren’t allergic to seafood, and would like to try an adventurous protein-packed meal, check out our Brood X Cicada recipes story!

Laila Abuelhawa is the Top 40 and Hip-Hop pop culture writer for Beasley Media Group. Being with the company for over three years, Laila's fierce and fabulous red-carpet rankings have earned her a feature on 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert!' Her favorite stories are those surrounding the latest in celebrity fashion, television and film rankings, and how the world reacts to major celebrity news. With a background in journalism, Laila's stories ensure accuracy and offer background information on stars that you wouldn't have otherwise known. She prides herself in covering stories that inform the public about what is currently happening and what is to come in the ever-changing, ever-evolving media landscape.

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Author Laila Abuelhawa
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