Cockroaches produce odorous secretions from various points in their bodies which can affect the flavor of various foods.  When cockroach populations are high, these secretions may result in a characteristic odor in the general region of the infestation.  Disease-producing organisms such as bacteria have been found on cockroach bodies, include food poisoning, dysentery, diarrhea and other illnesses. 

There are two common species of cockroach:
- Blatella germanica (German cockroach)
- Periplaneta Americana (American cockroach).

German cockroach is the most economically important urban pest.  It is the most common cockroach species in houses, departments, restaurants, hotels and other institutions.

Cockroach management
Some aspect on cockroach management are:
- Inspection and survey to locate as many cockroach harborage as possible
- Sanitation, is an effort which will help to eliminate food, moisture and harborage available to the cockroach population.
- Population reduction by non chemical (chaulking, trapping, gluing, etc) and chemical methods (Solfac)