The experts say people might not be able to see everything that is on your plate.
“Aphids are small soft bodied insects,” said John Hopkins, an extension urban entomologist for the University of Arkansas, “If ingested it would just add a little protein to your diet.”
The United States Food and Drug Administration regulates what ingredients go into the nation’s food. The government says a certain level of insect parts is okay. “It’s not a pleasant thing to think about, but it’s not a health hazard,” said Hopkins.
In some cultures people choose to eat insects. In the United States food processing plants must go through strict cleaning. “That takes care of probably 99.9999999% of whatever might have been on that raw commodity,” said Hopkins.
Some of the most infected foods are frozen, specifically frozen spinach and brussels sprouts.