18 Facts About Your Favorite Foods That Might Ruin Your Appetite
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Our favorite foods often bring us comfort and joy, but sometimes ignorance is bliss when it comes to what’s really in them or how they’re made. From hidden ingredients to surprising production methods, the world of food can be full of unexpected and sometimes unsettling facts.
Let’s look at some eye-opening truths about popular foods that might make you think twice before your next meal. While these facts shouldn’t necessarily stop you from enjoying your favorite treats, they might just give you a new perspective on what you’re putting in your mouth. Prepare to look at your plate a little differently!
Vanilla Flavoring Source
Much of the vanilla flavoring used in foods comes from castoreum, a substance extracted from beaver anal glands. While it’s considered safe for consumption, the thought of eating beaver secretions might not be appetizing. This natural flavoring is often listed simply as “natural flavors” on ingredient labels.
Shellac In Candy
The shiny coating on many candies and pills is made from shellac, which comes from lac bug secretions. These insects produce the resin as a protective coating, which is then harvested and processed. You’re essentially eating bug secretions when you pop a shiny jelly bean.
Gelatin Origins
Gelatin, found in many gummy candies, marshmallows, and Jell-O, is made from animal bones and skin. This protein is extracted by boiling these animal parts. So, your favorite gummy bears are partly made from animal collagen.
Cochineal Beetles In Food Coloring
The red food coloring cochineal, often listed as carmine or carminic acid, is made by crushing female cochineal beetles. This bright red dye is used in many foods and cosmetics. You might be eating crushed bugs in your yogurt or lipstick.
Chicken Nugget Composition
Chicken nuggets often contain only 40-50% chicken meat. The rest is a mixture of fat, blood vessels, nerves, crushed bone, and connective tissues. That crispy nugget isn’t as pure as you might think.
Sugar In Ketchup
A typical bottle of ketchup contains about 33% sugar. That’s about 4 grams (1 teaspoon) of sugar per tablespoon of ketchup. Your favorite condiment might be more of a dessert than you realized.
Canned Mushroom Maggots
The FDA allows up to 19 maggots and 74 mites in a 3.5-ounce can of mushrooms. While these levels are considered safe for consumption, the thought of eating tiny insects with your mushrooms might be unappetizing.
Fruit Wax Coating
Many fruits, like apples and pears, are coated with a layer of wax to make them look shiny and fresh. This wax can be made from various substances, including shellac (remember the lac bugs?). You’re eating a thin layer of wax with every bite.
Wood Pulp In Cheese
Many shredded cheeses contain cellulose, which is essentially wood pulp. It’s used to prevent the cheese from clumping. While it’s safe to eat, you might not expect to find wood in your cheese.
Viruses On Lunch Meat
Some deli meats are sprayed with viruses to kill harmful bacteria. These bacteriophages are harmless to humans but might make you think twice about your sandwich. You’re essentially eating viruses with your cold cuts.
Insect Parts In Chocolate
The FDA allows up to 60 insect fragments per 100 grams of chocolate. These tiny bug parts are considered harmless and impossible to completely eliminate from the chocolate-making process. Your chocolate bar might have more crunch than you bargained for.
Artificial Strawberry Flavor
The strawberry flavoring in many foods comes from a chemical called ethyl methylphenylglycidate, which is derived from petroleum. That strawberry milkshake might not have ever seen a real strawberry.
Fish Bladders In Beer
Some beers are clarified using isinglass, a substance derived from fish bladders. While it’s removed before bottling, traces may remain. Your “vegan” beer might not be so vegan after all.
Meat Glue
Some meat products are held together with transglutaminase, commonly known as “meat glue.” This enzyme can bind pieces of meat together, making them appear as one cut. Your steak might be a patchwork of meat pieces.
Beaver Anal Glands In Raspberry Flavoring
Similar to vanilla, some raspberry flavorings come from castoreum, those beaver anal glands again. Your raspberry-flavored product might have more in common with a beaver than an actual raspberry.
Sand In Spices
Many spices contain silicon dioxide, also known as sand, as an anti-caking agent. While it’s food-grade and considered safe, you’re still essentially sprinkling tiny bits of sand on your food.
Antifreeze In Ice Cream
Some ice creams contain propylene glycol, a less-toxic cousin of ethylene glycol, which is used in antifreeze. It helps keep ice cream soft and creamy. Your favorite frozen treat shares an ingredient with car maintenance products.
Human Hair In Bread
L-cysteine, an amino acid used as a dough conditioner in some breads, can be derived from human hair or duck feathers. While it’s processed and considered safe, the thought of eating something derived from human hair might be unsettling.
12 Popular Foods That Are Surprisingly Fake
12 Popular Foods That Are Surprisingly Fake
