PETA Says No Eat-a the Roaches

By Matt Wood in Miscellaneous on Sep 25, 2006 11:34AM

Props to commenter geekgrrl for calling this one last Thursday when we reported that Six Flags will be daring people to eat live cockroaches for a chance to jump the line. PETA has asked Six Flags to cancel the promotion during next month's "Fright Fest," calling it "a tired gag from 'Fear Factor.'"

PETA spokeswoman Jackie Vergerio sent a letter to Great America's general manager, defending the "much-maligned invertebrate" because it "possesses keen senses, is quite docile, and has an amazing evolutionary history." Everybody now: awwwwww.

Six Flags doesn't sound like they're backing down. PR director Jim Taylor said, "It is important to point out that cockroaches do provide nutritional value. (They) are high in protein and they have no fat. They are a common part of a lot of other diets in the world, (and) we do eat some things in this part of the world that might be frowned upon in other parts of the world." He also added that they're really no different than any other animals they serve for food at the park. Right, except that the chicken and cow meat doesn't HISS AT US WHEN WE EAT IT. Speaking of cows, we can smell the bullshit all the way from Gurnee.

If you're still hell-bent on eating cockroaches, either to piss off PETA or to get your protein, you can enter the roach-eating contest at the park on Friday the 13th next month. If not, the Tribune offers up some more palatable tests of will to enliven your day.