LET THEM EAT ROACHES!

As if my title wasn't gross enough, this tale actually has a sad ending to it. So, 32-year-old Edward Archbold of West Palm Beach, Florida, apparently won a roach-eating contest at Ben Siegel Reptile store to win a python snake, but soon after the gross insect eating event, Archbold collapsed and died. That's right! He died shortly after downing dozens of live cockroaches and worms! Oh, man! If my girl was reading this right now, she might've fainted! The one phobia that freaks her out the most is cockroaches and the fact that this guy was eating them would've totally made her faint. Maybe it's best to keep this story from her. 

Anyway, there were about 30 contestants who also ate the disgusting entrees last weekend during a contest at Ben Siegel Reptile Store in Deerfield Beach, which was about 40 miles north of Miami, for the grand prize of a python snake. Hmmm...Eating cockroaches for a big snake? Not worth it! Archbold became ill shortly after the contest ended and collapsed in front of the store. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. Authorities are still waiting for results of an autopsy to determine a cause of death. 

A professor at the University of California said that unless the roaches were contaminated with some bacteria or other pathogens, he didn't think that cockroaches would be unsafe to eat. He also added that he's never heard of someone dying after consuming roaches, although people do have allergies to them, but there are no toxins in roaches or any other related insects. None of the other contestants became ill. 

 Store owner, Ben Siegel stated, "We feel terribly awful!" Of course, you do! You have a nice fat lawsuit coming your way that will cost you more than that python! Once Archbold's family gets in touch with their lawyers, Siegel can kiss his reptile store goodbye! Siegel added, "He looked like he just wanted to show off and was very nice. He was the life of the party!" Oh, that's a great thing to say knowing there is a lawsuit coming your way! Then again, is there a lawsuit on the way? A statement from Siegel's attorney said that all participants signed waivers "accepting responsibility for their participation in this unique and unorthodox contest." You know there has to be a loophole in that waiver somewhere. There's a loophole in everything!

The bugs consumed were allegedly from an inventory of insects that were safely and domestically raised in a controlled environment as food for reptiles. Either way...Gross! Siegel said that Archbold was selling the exotic prize to a friend who took him to the contest. I wonder how his friend feels now! Did he even end up getting the python? I have to be honest; I don't think that I can eat a bunch of roaches even for a million dollars. That is just absolutely disgusting!