A lot has been said lately about knowing what is in our foods when grocery shopping. From dyes to chemicals, food manufacturers are filling our bellies with who knows what. For instance, did you know that the manufacturing process for those popular Greek yogurts produces millions of pounds of toxic acid waste annually? It really is such a lovely image. Well, at least the acid waste is not in the yogurt. The truth is, there are several "ingredients" hidden in the foods we eat every day.
- By Jessica Cohen
Cochineal Extract
You may have been warned to stay away from red dyes, but do you know what they are made of? Much of the red dye used in red and pink food products are made from cochineal extract, which is basically the bodies of crushed-up beetles. Doesn't that make you just want to run out and purchase a giant pack of licorice?
Animal Tissue
Gelatin is used in the majority of gummy products such as fruit chews and marshmallows. Gelatin is a pork derivative. That sounds harmless enough, right? What if I tell you that gelatin is made from boiled animal connective tissue? Yummy!
Castoreum
Castoreum is a "natural" flavor enhancer used in items such as ice creams. However, it is enhancing the flavor of your favorite scoop with the secretions of beavers. Yes, you read that right. The Food and Drug Administration regards castoreum extract as safe, so at least there's that.
Sawdust
The newest food scandal to come to the forefront is sawdust. It is used to prevent stickiness in items such as shredded cheeses and is more commonly known as cellulose. If you have ever purchased a natural, organic shredded cheese and noticed that it was a little clumpier than brand name packages, now you may know why. You're welcome.
Propylene Glycol
Another preservative found in our foods (and in many hair and body products) is propylene glycol, which is also used to make anti-freeze. Experts say that propylene glycol alters the structure of the skin by helping other chemicals reach your bloodstream. In foods it is used to make biscuits, cakes, sweets, and other baked goods.
L-Cysteine
Many of those baked goods and bread products you see on the shelves of the supermarket are also created using an ingredient called L-Cysteine. L-Cysteine is actually made from fibers which commonly come from human hair. Occasionally it can be derived from duck feathers. Quack.
Brominated Vegetable Oil
Be careful of those sports drinks you use to stay hydrated. They are often made with brominated vegetable oil (BVO), which is added to keep the ingredients from separating and contains bromine, an element also found in flame retardants. Experts worry about this ingredient which builds up in the body and may compete with iodine for receptor sites. It has been removed or banned from food and drinks in Europe and Japan but not here.
