Top 15 Gross Ingredients in Processed Food

Dead Bugs for Red Food Coloring

Called Cochineal Insects

Frequently listed in ingredients as Carmine or Carminic Acid....because there was an outcry of using powdered bugs as colorants some manufactures have also listed this as a "natural coloring". These insects are from South and Central America.

Specifically the female Dactylopius Coccus which is dried or boiled and crushed into a fine powder. Synthetic pigments abound in today's market but Carmine is still widely used in foods, drinks, fabrics and cosmetics. Can also be listed as Crimson Lake, Cochineal, Natural Red #40, C.I. 75470, or E120

Human Hair and or Duck Feathers in Bread

Labeled Under L-Cysteine or Cystine

Mostly used as a dough conditioner. The majority of L-Cysteine was once obtained industrially by hydrolysis of human hair, but in recent years 80% is produced from duck feathers instead.

It's now possible to get synthetically produced material, usually for Kosher at a higher price

Coal Tar in Red Colored Candy

Allura Red AC

Derived from coal tar found in red colored candies, sweets and sodas it's sometimes confused with Carmine. Allura Red AC also known as FD&C Red 40 was originally manufactured from coal tar, but is now mostly made from petroleum I feel so much better now don't you?

Cheese From a Calf Stomach

Using the Stomach of a Young Cow Which is called Rennet,

Not widely practiced in the Americas today. Still, they insert cow genes into certain types of bacteria to produce an organism (Chymosin) which was sanctioned by the US Food and Drug Administration, in 1999.

60% of hard chess was made with the genetic Chymosin. In 2008, 80 to 90% of cheeses were made this way and still are.

Gelatin is an Animal By-Product

Made from Bones and Hides of Animals

In 2006 the FDA approved use of Viruses

on Lunch Meat

I Just Found Something Else

I find I've been reading labels more now days, which leads me to my salad dressing. Nothing gross however I wanted everyone to be aware that something as simple as salad dressing can contain some interesting things. Mostly the information I just dug up pertains to vegans, however anyone allergic to fish also needs to be aware.

Listed under Disodium guanylate, it's a flavor enhancer and additive. Commonly used in conjunction with MSG, if MSG isn't present this additive usually has soy added. Disodium guanylate is produced from dried fish or seaweed and should be avoided by asthmatics and people with gout, This additive also isn't safe for very young babies.

If Disodium guanylate is made from seaweed the product will be labeled as being vegan friendly.

The FDA Allows Bugs and Rodent Hair

In Peanut Butter

Here's a few others from the FDA site:

8 - Ground Cinnamon - insect and rodent hairs
9 - Chocolate and Chocolate Liquor - insect parts and rodent filth
10 - Cranberry Sauce - mold
11 - Canned Greens - Mildew
12 - Canned Pineapples - Mold
13 - Macaroni and Noodle Products - Insect filth and rodent hairs
14 - Popcorn - Rodent filth
15 - Tomato Juice - Drosophila fly eggs and larvae
The FDA Site

I also want to clear up a few Myth's I've found
Worcestershire sauce is made from dissolved fish, this is not the case. The ONLY fish ingredient in Worcestershire Sauce that's made in the US, is anchovies.

Twinkies made with Animal Fat - I know that the creme filling is made with VEGETABLE shortening, however since the company has never listed it's ingredients for those yummy spongy cakes your guess is as good as mine!

Not hungry anymore?

Of course you are, everyone has to eat!