German scientists have discovered that ordinary tea bags may contain genetic traces of hundreds of insects. As the study published in Biology Letters showed, more than 200 such particles were found in each sample.
Scientists published a study in the journal Biology Letters with rather unpleasant results for many tea lovers.
German researchers analyzed the DNA contained in tea bags purchased from a regular store. As a result, genetic traces of thousands of insects were found in them. Each bag contained more than 200 particles, with the highest number found in green tea.
How Does Insect DNA Get into Tea?
It's quite simple — DNA remains on tea leaves even after a beetle just nibbles on a leaf. And they persist in the ground tea until it reaches your cup. Why are such studies necessary?
Researchers emphasize that this is not a health threat: such traces are inevitable in agriculture, writes bb.lv. Moreover, analyzing insect DNA helps study biodiversity and even determine the origin of tea, turning an "unexpected find" into a useful scientific tool.
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