If you're like me you just shove your face full of whatever tastes good with absolutely no regard for the consequences of my actions. Sometimes I do make an effort to eat healthy and buy things that are organic and 'all natural'. But 'all natural' isn't exactly as appealing as it may sound! Here's 10 disgusting food ingredients that are made from super gross animal and bug parts and juices. Yeah, I said juices. Be prepared to cry, vegetarians!
Carmine
What it is: Ground up red beetles
Have you ever eaten anything pink or red? Then you've eaten the carmine-filled abdomen of a bug that was killed by immersion in hot water, or exposure to heat, and then dried and ground up to make things look cherry and strawberry. So basically the two best Starburst flavors are beetle guts. Still better than lemon!
Castoreum
What it really is: anal glad secretions and urine from a beaver
This ingredient is commonly found in vanilla ice cream and raspberry flavored foods. I guess vanilla does sound more appealing than anal juice. Glad I've always been a chocolate lover. Please don't tell me that's made from dehydrated armadillo poop.
Isinglass
What it really is: Dried fish bladders
This ingredient gives beer it's appealing golden hue. It's kind of strange to think of your bladder being full of bladders. Also who's job is it to extract fish bladders? Great, now I'm gonna go down an internet research wormhole. See you in a day or so.
Gelatin
What it really is: Boiled down pig skin (46%), bovine hide (29.4%) and pork and cattle bones (23.1%).
So if you get raspberry flavored, you're hitting the gross food ingredient trifecta: gelatin, castoreum and carmine. Mmmm pig skin, ground up beetle belly and anal juice. Thanks, mom!
Lanolin
What it really is: An oiley secretion found in sheep's wool
Lanolin is commonly used to soften chewing gum. Chew on that for awhile! And then laugh to yourself every time you see someone obnoxiously smacking away on some Bubble Yum. Look at their faces as they savor sheep secretions. Yummy, juicy sheep secretions.
Shortening (in Hostess products)
What it really is: The shortening in Hostess products contain one or more of the following: partially hydrogenated soybean, cottonseed and canola oil, and BEEF FAT.
Maybe it's a good thing these products are going away? I like my desserts beef-free. I also like them to go 'bad' after a day or two, not that they ever last that long...BUT STILL!
L-Cyesteine
What it really is: An amino acid made from human hair or duck feathers
Do you like mass-produced bread products? Who doesn't? You're basically eating hair and feathers. Well not really...but still! It's in there! Maybe I'll jump on the gluten-free bandwagon after all. Are there gluten-free Italian subs and pizza that taste as good as the real thing? *crickets*
Rennet
What it really is: Calf stomach
Enzymes produced from calf stomach are used to make cheese. Why is it that rennet is gross but eating dairy that came from a cow's teets isn't? I guess it's just one of life's little mysteries, folks.
Calcium triphosphate
What it really is: Bone char
Bone char is used to filter and discolor sugar. So basically every granule of delicious sugar we eat has touched the charred remains of 'animals'. I'm adding unnecessary quotation marks to heighten the horror of it all.
Shellac
What it really is: The refined secretions of Kerria lacca insects
Basically any candy that has a shiny outer shell on it is shellacked with bug secretions. Think of that the next time you ask for sprinkles on your anal juice cream cone.
Were you surprised by any of these? Let me know @desijedeikin or in the comments below!
