Many bread products contain an amino acid known as L-cysteine, which is
used as a softening agent. L-cysteine is derived from either human hair or Hog
or poultry feathers, and it can be found in many popular brand-name products.
Businesses that have acknowledged they've used L-cysteine include Lender's,
Einstein Bros., McDonald's and Pizza Hut.
L-cysteine (sometimes shown as E920 on food labels) is used as a dough
conditioner and strengthener, meaning the dough can be stretched out to make a
pizza crust, for example. L-cysteine can also help extend the shelf life of
commercial breads. L-cysteine is an amino acid (building block of proteins) and
is perfectly safe for human consumption.
Most L-cysteine is sourced from China, where feathers are collected from
farms, and human hairs from the floors of barbershops. The feathers and hairs
are processed in Chinese factories, where L-cysteine is extracted in a chemical
process.
Beer and wine
Isinglass, a gelatin-like substance collected from fish bladders is used in the clarification process of many
beers and wines. Other agents used for the process of fining include egg white
albumen, gelatin and casein.
Candy
Numerous foods contain gelatin, a protein derived from the collagen in cow
or pig bones, skin and connective tissues. It's often used as a thickening or
stabilizing agent and can be found in a variety of candies, including Altoids,
gummy candies and Starburst chews, among others.
Also, many red candies contain a dye made from the extracts of dried bodies
of the Coccus cacti bugs. The ingredient is often listed as carmine, cochineal
or carminic acid.
Yogurt
Dannon's strawberry yogurt is colored using an additive made from crushed
bugs.
The yogurt maker Dannon has been under fire for using carmine (a red color
additive made from crushed beetles) in its product, although its far from the
only company to use the stuff.
Most Caesar salad dressings contain anchovy paste
Jell-O
It's fairly common knowledge that Jell-O contains gelatin
Marshmallows
Gelatin strikes again
Non-dairy creamer
Although it has non-dairy in its name, many such creamers contain casein, a
protein derived from milk.
Omega-3 products
Many products with labels that boast their heart-healthy ingredients
contain omega-3 fatty acids derived from fish. For example, Tropicana's Hearth
Healthy orange juice's label lists tilapia, sardine and anchovy as
ingredients.
Peanuts
Some brands of peanuts, such as Planters dry roasted peanuts, also contain
gelatin because the substance helps salt and other spices adhere to the
nuts.
Potato chips
Some flavored potato chips, especially those flavored with powdered cheese,
can contain casein, whey or animal-derived enzymes.
Refined sugar
Sugar isn't naturally white, so manufacturers process it using bone char,
which is made from the bones of cattle. To avoid sugar filtered with bone char,
purchase unrefined sugar or buy from brands that don't use bone-char
filters.
The refining processes for both white and brown sugar often use bone char, a granular material from animal ashes. It gives sugar its white color.
The refining processes for both white and brown sugar often use bone char, a granular material from animal ashes. It gives sugar its white color.
Refried beans
Many canned refried beans are made with hydrogenated lard, so check labels
to ensure you're buying vegetarian beans.
Vanilla-flavored foods
Although it's rare, some foods are flavored with Castoreum, a beaver anal
secretion. As gross at that sounds, the FDA classifies it as GRAS, or "generally
recognized as safe," and Castoreum is typically listed as "natural flavoring."
The additive is most often used in baked goods as a vanilla substitute, but it's
also been used in alcoholic beverages, puddings, ice cream, candy and chewing
gum.
Cake mixes
Cake mixes sometimes contain beef fat, according to Ann Byrn's book, "The Cake Mix Doctor." Many call for oil or shortening while others just add dehydrated versions of these to minimize the additional ingredients required. Hostess, a confectionery company which recently went under new management, also puts beef fat in their famous cupcakes.
Red candy
Red cochineal beetles, when dried and crushed, produce a powder called carmine, which is used as an all-encompassing dye in red foods like candy, ice cream, and yogurt. Though it previously slipped under the radar as "artificial coloring," the FDA has required manufacturers to explicitly list carmine on food labels since early 2011.
Red cochineal beetles, when dried and crushed, produce a powder called carmine, which is used as an all-encompassing dye in red foods like candy, ice cream, and yogurt. Though it previously slipped under the radar as "artificial coloring," the FDA has required manufacturers to explicitly list carmine on food labels since early 2011.
Edible shellac, also known as confectioner's glaze, coats most hard, shiny candy, with the notable exception of M&Ms. It's made from the excretions of female lac bugs (Kerria lacca).
Non Food Items:
Perfume
Some scents, especially those that smell like vanilla, list castoreum as an ingredient. Castoreum comes from beavers' castor sacs — a gland located between the animal's pelvis and the base of its tail.
Some scents, especially those that smell like vanilla, list castoreum as an ingredient. Castoreum comes from beavers' castor sacs — a gland located between the animal's pelvis and the base of its tail.
Plastic bags
Many plastics, like commercial shopping bags, contain
chemicals often referred to as "slip agents," which are derived from the stearic
acid in animal fat. They essentially prevent the polymers from sticking to
metals during manufacturing and clinging to each other afterward. Some bike
tires also contain these elements.
Downy
Downy, the detergent endorsed by the snuggly child, contains dihydrogenated tallow dimethyl ammonium chloride — or a derivative of rendered cattle, sheep, and horse fat mixed with ammonium. This process creates a quaternary ammonium compound, or a quat, which basically coats your clothes in lipids, making them feel soft.
Downy, the detergent endorsed by the snuggly child, contains dihydrogenated tallow dimethyl ammonium chloride — or a derivative of rendered cattle, sheep, and horse fat mixed with ammonium. This process creates a quaternary ammonium compound, or a quat, which basically coats your clothes in lipids, making them feel soft.
Nail polish
Shimmery cosmetics, like nail polish or lipstick, contain
guanine (sometimes listed as "pearl essence"), one of the four base components
of RNA and DNA. Companies obtain it from fish (notably, herring) scales.
Crayons
As part of the rendering industry, which disposes of otherwise unused animal waste, the creation of crayons often includes animal fat, according to a 2004 Congressional report.
As part of the rendering industry, which disposes of otherwise unused animal waste, the creation of crayons often includes animal fat, according to a 2004 Congressional report.
Paraffin is the main ingredient in the most popular crayons, but not many
would expect mammalian byproducts in children's art supplies.
Cigarettes
Hemoglobin derived from pig's blood is — or at least once
was — included in some cigarette filters.
