Do Chocolate Covered Roaches Actually Exist?

I have a confession to make…

I once ate chocolate covered crickets! It’s true! Being an Entomologist at the city museum where I studied, I helped coordinate the annual Bugfest. I brought my kids along (they were about 4 and 7 at the time) and they watched mom eat chocolate covered bugs! All in all, it wasn’t too bad. But, the real question is, does anyone actually eat chocolate-covered roaches?

First, let’s get one thing straight

Dubia roaches are feeder insects, not food for humans. They’re raised and handled entirely for reptile nutrition, not human snacking. So if you’re picturing your Bearded Dragon’s dinner dipped in chocolate and served like holiday dessert, that’s not a thing. But edible insects absolutely exist in human cuisine worldwide, and chocolate sometimes makes an appearance.

So who eats chocolate-covered insects?

Places that serve edible insects sometimes feature chocolate-coated treats on menus or novelty displays. Mealworms, crickets, and grasshoppers are the most common. These snacks are seen as high protein, environmentally friendly, and sometimes adventurous. Chocolate helps make the idea a little more “approachable” for curious eaters. It’s basically the culinary version of camouflage.

But roaches? They’re far less common for human consumption because they require specific safety standards and handling. Insects meant for reptiles aren’t processed under food-grade regulations. That means roaches from a feeder bin are not something a person should try as a dessert experiment.

Are roaches ever eaten intentionally?

Believe it or not, yes. Some cultures and survival communities have used cockroaches as a food source historically, but those are usually different species, not feeder roaches. And certainly not the Dubias you feed to your reptiles at home. Human-edible roaches would have to be raised under completely different conditions to be safe.

So what’s the verdict on chocolate-covered roaches?

Technically possible? Yes. Popular? Absolutely not. Safe to try with feeder roaches? Definitely no.

If someone somewhere has dipped a roach in chocolate, it was probably a novelty dare, not something you’d see on a normal dessert menu. Most chocolate-covered insect treats rely on insects designed for human consumption from the beginning, not the bugs living in your reptile setup.

A sweet takeaway for your reptile

While we’re celebrating National Chocolate Covered Anything Day, keep the chocolate to yourself and leave the roaches to your reptile. They’re healthier that way, and your pet prefers theirs exactly as nature intended: full of protein, not sugar.

So while chocolate-covered roaches might technically exist somewhere on the planet, they’re definitely not making it onto your dinner table anytime soon. But they can keep being the perfect snack for your favorite scaly friend—no chocolate required.

If you need to stock up on the real (and reptile-approved) kind, you can order healthy Dubias anytime right here at The Bug Shed!