A doctor has warned that coffee drinkers may unknowingly be drinking microscopic traces of cockroaches if they buy pre-ground coffee.
London-based GP Dr. Sermed Mezher He shared the grim fact with his 290,000 Instagram followers.
He explained that during the harvesting, processing and grinding of coffee beans, it is almost impossible to completely eliminate contaminants such as insects, which can come into contact with the beans in the fields, storage facilities or production plants.
These insects include cockroaches, which are abundant in tropical and subtropical environments where coffee beans are primarily grown and manufactured.
The US Food and Drug Administration estimates that up to 10 percent of each bag of coffee beans may be contaminated with insect fragments, including cockroaches.
However, the agency says that this low level is safe for human consumption.
“While the idea of insect parts in coffee may be discouraging, it is important to note that these levels are low and do not pose any health risks,” Dr. Mezher said.
But he warned those with shellfish allergies to stay away from ground beans, as sufferers tend to react to a protein called tropomyosin found in cockroaches.
For those with a shellfish allergy (up to 2 million people in the UK), symptoms usually appear quickly after eating, according to Anaphylaxis UK.
The charity explains that mild to moderate symptoms usually consist of a raised red rash that can appear anywhere on the body, a tingling or itchy sensation in the mouth, swollen lips, face or eyes, and stomach pain or vomiting.
In more severe cases, people allergic to shellfish may experience anaphylaxis, also known as anaphylactic shock, and can kill within minutes.
It is a serious and life-threatening reaction and is considered a medical emergency.
Feeling lightheaded or faint; breathing difficulties, such as rapid, shallow breathing; wheezing; a rapid heartbeat; moist skin; Confusion, anxiety, and collapse or loss of consciousness are signs of anaphylaxis.
Dr. Mezher admitted that he still drinks two coffees a day and advises his followers to do the same if they want to reap the health benefits.
Coffee has been linked to numerous benefits, including reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart attacks, strokes, and dementia.
Scientists at the University Hospital of Basel, Switzerland, found that people over 65 who suffered from an irregular heart rhythm were less likely to suffer memory-robbing symptoms if they drank a lot of coffee.
Additionally, recent research published in the European Heart Journal found that drinking coffee before noon reduces the risk of heart and circulatory diseases by 31 percent compared to those who drink it throughout the day.
The British Dietetic Association (BDA) reports that most people can safely consume up to 300 mg of caffeine a day, the equivalent of three cups of coffee.
This is because studies have shown that an intake of more than 600 mg per day (twice the recommended amount) is linked to insomnia, nervousness, irritability, increased blood pressure and upset stomach.
But if you are pregnant you should not consume more than 200mg of caffeine a day, as this could increase the risk of miscarriage or low birth weight, the NHS warns.