Bugs, sand and anal glands in our food? Everyone now knows that processed and fast foods are not bastions of nutrition, but that shouldn’t make these ingredients found
inside them any less revolting. This list sends a clear message: when a
packaged or processed food contains more than five ingredients and includes some
that are difficult to pronounce, stay away.
Here are TEN reasons to order Personal Chef To Go meals instead of hitting a fast food drive-thru or th e prepared food section at the grocery store when you're strapped for time.
1. Fertilizer in Subway Sandwich Rolls
While chemical fertilizers inevitably make it into our produce in trace amounts, you would not expect it to be a common food
additive. However, ammonium sulfate can be found inside many brands of
bread, including Subway’s. The chemical provides nitrogen for the
yeast, creating a more consistent product.
2. Beaver Anal Glands in Raspberry Candy
The anal glands of a beaver, conveniently euphemized as castoreum,
are a common ingredient in perfumes and colognes but are also sometimes
used to -- believe it or not -- enhance the flavor of raspberry candies
and sweets.
3. Beef Fat in All Hostess Products
While this may not bother the most ardent omnivore, others are
shocked to discover that their favorite childhood treats contain
straight-up beef fat. The ingredient comes included a list of other
oils that may or may not be used, so it is always a gamble! It is
enough to make some of us want to go vegan.
4. Crushed Bugs as Red Food Coloring
After killing thousands at a time, the dried insects are boiled to
produce a liquid solution that can be turned to a dye using a variety
of treatments. Some people worry that the coloring -- often called
carmine or carminic acid -- could be listed as a “natural color,”
disguising the fact that there are bugs in the product.
5. Beetle Juice in Sprinkles and Candies
You know that shiny coating on candies like Skittles? Or the
sprinkles on cupcakes and ice cream sundaes? Well, they get that glaze
from the secretions of the female lac beetle. The substance is also
known as shellac and commonly used as a wood varnish.
6. Sheep Secretions in Bubble Gum
The oils inside sheep’s wool are collected to create the goopy
substance called lanolin. From there, it ends up in chewing gum
(sometimes under the guise of “gum base”), but also is used to create
vitamin D3 supplements.
7. Human Hair and/or Duck Feathers in Bread
What’s in your morning bagel? If you get it from Noah’s Bagels, it
contains either human hair or duck feathers, and it’s your guess as to
which. The substance, called L-cysteine or cystine, is used as a dough
conditioner to produce a specific consistency. While artificial
cysteine is available, it is cost prohibitive and mostly used to create kosher and halal products.
8. Coal Tar in Red-Colored Candy
Coal tar is listed as number 199 on the United Nations list of
“dangerous goods,” but that doesn’t stop people from using it in food.
The coloring Allura Red AC is derived from coal tar and is commonly found in red-colored candies, sodas and other sweets.
9. Calf Stomach in Many Cheeses
In the UK, all cheeses are labeled as either suitable or not
suitable for vegetarians because in Britain -- and everywhere else —
many cheeses are made using rennet, which is the fourth stomach of a
young cow. In the United States and most other countries, people are
left to guess about the stomach-content of their cheese.
10. Sand in Wendy’s Chili
Sand is hidden in Wendy’s chili as a name
you might remember from high school chemistry class: silicon dioxide.
Apparently they use sand as an “anti-caking agent,” perhaps to make
sure the chili can last for days and days over a heater. Skip it, cook
yourself a quick vegetarian meal instead this Thanksgiving.
Source: This article was originally published on WebEcoist.
Photo Credits: wkrantz, high hopes gardens
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