With Protein Powder Prices Soaring, "They're Even Eating This?" The Alternative Drawing Attention in China

Searches for cockroach powder surge
Driven by soaring whey protein prices
"Cockroach powder is unsuitable as an alternative"

With protein powder prices surging recently in China, cockroach powder is drawing attention as an inexpensive alternative protein supplement.

On October 18, China Central Television (CCTV) reported that “sellers are promoting ‘cockroach powder’ by claiming it has a very high protein content and costs one-tenth as much as whey protein powder.”

AI-generated image.

Rising Demand and Soaring Prices

In China, interest in health and nutrition has grown, steadily increasing demand for supplements and nutritional products. Prices have also been climbing. A popular product that previously cost 399 yuan per 1.8 kg (about 80,000 won) rose to 469 yuan (about 94,000 won), an increase of approximately 17.5%. Products from other brands were also found to have risen in price by 10% to 20%. As a result, complaints have been growing on local social media platforms and at gyms.

Song Liang, an economic expert at the China Agricultural and Dairy Industry Alliance, cited rising raw material prices and increased import costs as the main reasons for the price increases. He said the price of whey protein, the main ingredient, had more than doubled compared with the same period last year, while higher import costs, including customs clearance and sea freight, had also contributed to the increases.

Cockroach powder, attracting attention as a protein substitute in China. Baidu, China,

Cockroach Powder Emerges as an Alternative... Experts Say It Is "Unsuitable"

In response, some consumers are looking to cockroach powder made from so-called “American cockroaches” as an alternative. Some sellers tout its high protein content, claiming it costs less than 20 yuan per kilogram and is a perfect protein supplement.

CCTV reported that “most products were found to lack even basic information about the manufacturer or a quality certificate,” adding that “many products were advertised as ‘wild cockroach powder’ but could not provide a single relevant test report.” Most sellers were disguising these products as “traditional Chinese medicine” and selling them as such.

CCTV warned that cockroaches collected in the wild are more likely to carry pathogenic microorganisms, potentially posing serious health risks if consumed. It also pointed out that “standard protein powders specify the stability of their raw materials, among other details, but cockroach powder does not even provide basic information.”

Lao Zhiyong, a nutritionist at West China Hospital of Sichuan University, said, “Even cockroaches that meet hygiene standards do not have a balanced protein composition,” emphasizing that the ingredients alone show that cockroach powder would be difficult to use as a substitute for conventional protein powder.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.