Bugs, rodent hair and poop: How much is legally allowed in the food you eat every day?

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN

Updated 1058 GMT (1858 HKT) October 4, 2019

Did you know there can be 450 insect parts and nine rodent hairs in every 16 oz. box of spaghetti?<br />There's no way to get rid of all the creatures that might hitch a ride along the food processing chain, but the US Food and Drug Administration has set some <a href="https://www.fda.gov/food/ingredients-additives-gras-packaging-guidance-documents-regulatory-information/food-defect-levels-handbook#using" target="_blank">food defects standards</a> to keep them to a minimum.
Photos: Shocking 'filth' legally allowed in your food
Shocking "filth" legally allowed in your food – Did you know there can be 450 insect parts and nine rodent hairs in every 16 oz. box of spaghetti?
There's no way to get rid of all the creatures that might hitch a ride along the food processing chain, but the US Food and Drug Administration has set some food defects standards to keep them to a minimum.
Hide Caption
1 of 15
Sorry, but it's true. Chocolate can contain insect fragments and rodent hairs (or worse). If you're eating a regular-size chocolate bar (43 grams), it might legally contain 30 or more insect parts and some rodent hair.
Photos: Shocking 'filth' legally allowed in your food
Sorry, but it's true. Chocolate can contain insect fragments and rodent hairs (or worse). If you're eating a regular-size chocolate bar (43 grams), it might legally contain 30 or more insect parts and some rodent hair.
Hide Caption
2 of 15
The tomato juice in that 14 oz. Bloody Mary could legally contain up to four maggots and 20 or more fruit fly eggs. Canned tomatoes, tomato paste and sauces such as pizza sauce are a bit less contaminated, with the FDA allowing nearly two maggots in a 16 oz. can.
Photos: Shocking 'filth' legally allowed in your food
The tomato juice in that 14 oz. Bloody Mary could legally contain up to four maggots and 20 or more fruit fly eggs. Canned tomatoes, tomato paste and sauces such as pizza sauce are a bit less contaminated, with the FDA allowing nearly two maggots in a 16 oz. can.
Hide Caption
3 of 15
Asparagus can contain 40 or more scary-looking but teensy thrips for every ¼ pound. If those aren't around, FDA inspectors look for beetle eggs, entire insects or heads and body parts.
Photos: Shocking 'filth' legally allowed in your food
Asparagus can contain 40 or more scary-looking but teensy thrips for every ¼ pound. If those aren't around, FDA inspectors look for beetle eggs, entire insects or heads and body parts.
Hide Caption
4 of 15
Those golden raisins you feed your toddler are allowed to contain 35 fruit fly eggs as well as 10 or more whole (or equivalent) insects for every 8 ounces. Kid-sized containers of raisins are an ounce each. That's more than four eggs and a whole insect per box.
Photos: Shocking 'filth' legally allowed in your food
Those golden raisins you feed your toddler are allowed to contain 35 fruit fly eggs as well as 10 or more whole (or equivalent) insects for every 8 ounces. Kid-sized containers of raisins are an ounce each. That's more than four eggs and a whole insect per box.
Hide Caption
5 of 15
How about our old stand-by, peanut butter and jelly? Good news: Peanut butter is one of the most controlled foods in the FDA list; an average of one or more rodent hairs and 30 (or so) insect fragments are allowed for every 100 grams. The typical serving size for peanut butter is two tablespoons, which would allow for only eight insect fragments and a teensy tiny bit of rodent filth. <br />Jelly, however, is not as controlled. Cherry jam can have up to 30% moldy fruit, which is better than black currant jam, which can be 75% moldy.
Photos: Shocking 'filth' legally allowed in your food
How about our old stand-by, peanut butter and jelly? Good news: Peanut butter is one of the most controlled foods in the FDA list; an average of one or more rodent hairs and 30 (or so) insect fragments are allowed for every 100 grams. The typical serving size for peanut butter is two tablespoons, which would allow for only eight insect fragments and a teensy tiny bit of rodent filth.
Jelly, however, is not as controlled. Cherry jam can have up to 30% moldy fruit, which is better than black currant jam, which can be 75% moldy.
Hide Caption
6 of 15
Apple butter can contain an average of four or more rodent hairs per 100 grams and about five whole insects -- in addition to who knows how many teensy mites, aphids, and thrips. It can also have up to 12% mold.
Photos: Shocking 'filth' legally allowed in your food
Apple butter can contain an average of four or more rodent hairs per 100 grams and about five whole insects -- in addition to who knows how many teensy mites, aphids, and thrips. It can also have up to 12% mold.
Hide Caption
7 of 15
As you sprinkle that pepper on your morning eggs, try not to think about the fact you may be eating more than 40 insect fragments with every teaspoon, along with a smidgen of rodent hair.
Photos: Shocking 'filth' legally allowed in your food
As you sprinkle that pepper on your morning eggs, try not to think about the fact you may be eating more than 40 insect fragments with every teaspoon, along with a smidgen of rodent hair.
Hide Caption
8 of 15
The coffee beans you grind for breakfast are allowed to have an average of 10 milligrams or more animal poop per pound. As much as 4% to 6% of beans are also allowed to be insect-infested or moldy.