Watch CBS News

FDA Allows Rat Hair And Other Food 'Defects'

By Amy E. Feldman

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - What is the legal definition of a food defect? Nope, it's grosser than that.

The food brand Crowbar launched its line of health-conscious energy bars in August, which use a great source of healthy protein, according to the company. Crickets.

In case the thought of that makes you want to croak (literally or figuratively) here's something else you may not want to know: the law recognizes that food manufacturing is not a perfect system, and has a whole list of "defects" including mold, rodent hairs and insect larvae that is ALLOWABLE in the food you eat.

The FDA establishes maximum levels of natural or unavoidable defects in foods that present no health hazard. The levels aren't an average of the defects that occur in any of the products - the averages are actually much lower, just the limits at which FDA will regard the food product "adulterated". So many types of foods have an acceptable level of insect parts which you can find on the FDA's website when you search under defect levels.

The fact that chocolate is considered safe even if it contains some insect parts and rodent hairs may give me pause - but it won't make me stop eating chocolate. It might make me rethink the cricket bars though. "Ribbit."

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.