Is it safe to eat fly eggs?

In this brief guide, we will discuss the question, “is it safe to eat fly eggs?”. As well, we will discuss can I have symptoms if I eat fly eggs, what can be the symptoms of intestinal myiasis, what is a fly, what are house flies, and other concerns about fly eggs.  

Is it safe to eat fly eggs?

Maybe it would be safe if the eggs did not survive. However, there are some reported cases of intestinal myiasis, which occurs when you eat food that contains fly eggs and these survive in your gastrointestinal system. So, it is better not to eat food that contains fly eggs.   

Infested people can have symptoms or not. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), eating fly eggs can cause intestinal myiasis, however, this is not so common. 

What can be the symptoms of intestinal myiasis?

As you check certain people will not develop symptoms, however, according to the CDC, the symptoms can include abdominal discomfort, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting. If you experience something like that, it is better to look for medical treatment. 

Can house flies carry diseases?

Yes, as house flies have the habit of landing and feeding on organic matter, they are considered a vector that can carry a lot of pathogenic microorganisms. If a housefly lands on food, mainly if they regurgitated and defecated there, if you eat that, you may develop some foodborne illness.

What is foodborne illness?

Foodborne illness can occur when humans eat food contaminated with microorganisms, such as bacteria, parasites, viruses, and also chemicals like heavy metals. The contamination of food can happen in any part of the manufacturing food, also in shipping, commerce, and at home.  

How can I avoid house flies?

Always keep your house and garden clean, with no decaying organic matter, and avoid letting spoiled food, by doing that, you will ensure that the house flies can develop nowhere. Below are more types to avoid house flies.  

  • Do not let open food in any place, as can attract house flies;
  • Avoid letting fruits or legumes that start to spoil outside, you should throw them away;
  • If you have domestic animals, always collect their feces;
  • Keep the trash well closed and do not accumulate them.

What are the signs of spoiled food?

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, spoiled food may have changed the appearance of the food in its color, fresh aspect, texture, odor, and taste. If you noted some of the signs of spoiled foods, throw them away to avoid foodborne illness.

What are house flies?

House flies belong to the family Muscidae and are related to the species Musca domestica, which are present throughout the world and are considered commensal to humans. House flies are the most popular species present in houses, which is why they have the name “house” flies.

How many eggs can a female deposit?

Females house flies can deposit about 100 eggs, and they lay their eggs on organic matter that begins to spoil, like carrion, food waste, rotting fruit and legumes, feces, and others. 

What is the cycle of fly eggs?

After the female house flies lay their eggs, these quickly transform into larvae within 1 day, which are also known as maggots, and then transform into a reddish-brown pupa, and finally into an adult housefly. The adult housefly can live for about 2 to 4 weeks.  

What do maggots feed on? 

Maggots will be fed on the organic matter where the females lay them. The time for maggots to transform into an adult takes about 14 days to 30 days, it will depend on temperature conditions and the amount of light because it is better a dark, warm, and humidity local.

Why is it common to find maggots in animal feces?

The interior of animal feces provides the ideal conditions for the development of maggots, as they are dark, warm, have high humidity, and also are abundant in organic matter.

Can I use pesticides to control flies?

It’s not recommended to use pesticides or other chemicals to control bugs inside the house, because they can be toxic to humans. You can know more about pesticides and their unfavorable health effects on humans by clicking here.

How can I make natural pesticides?

You can make homemade natural pesticides and use them inside the house. If you click here, you can check 8 natural options of pesticides, such as soap spray, garlic spray, tomato leaf spray, vegetable oil spray, diatomaceous earth, and others. 

Conclusion

In this brief guide, we have discussed the question, “is it safe to eat fly eggs?”. As well, we have discussed can I have symptoms if I eat fly eggs, what can be the symptoms of intestinal myiasis, what is a fly, what are house flies, and other concerns about fly eggs.  

References

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00000503.htm Accessed: 05/15/2022

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Housefly Accessed: 05/15/2022

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fly Accessed: 05/15/2022

https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2016/03/25/protecting-your-family-food-spoilage Accessed: 05/15/2022

https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/foodborne-germs.html Accessed: 05/15/2022

  

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