They're big, shiny brown with a black head, and crunchy, and for some brave souls, they'll soon be what's for dinner at Six Flags Great America. The Gurnee amusement park is daring those with adventurous tastes to down a live Madagascar hissing cockroach - much to the displeasure of the Lake County Health Department.

It starts Oct. 7 as part of a promotion for Great America's annual weekend FrightFest. In return, a roach-eater will receive a T-shirt and a pass to bring three pals to the front of any ride line. The undated pass will be good for all of FrightFest, which ends Oct. 29. Great America's cockroach infatuation won't end there. Spokesman James Taylor said the amusement park plans to hold an eating contest with cooked Madagascar hissing roaches Oct. 13. He said it's hoped someone tops the 36 cooked roaches downed in one minute by a British man in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Read more...

And, as can be expected, PETA weigh in five days later to express their disapproval.