By Brittany Greenquist, RYOT News
Many people have no idea where exactly the substances and ingredients they consume come from - in a world full of GMO's, additives, preservatives and so-called 'natural' flavorings - it's a dietary land mine out there.
The saddest part is that it's not necessarily a factor of consumer ignorance, it's mainly a result of lenient FDA laws that allow companies to mask various ingredients - rendering us unaware of the very foods we're putting into our bodies.
One of the biggest misconceptions is the idea of natural flavorings. Many products, including those considered 'all-natural' or 'healthy,' are guilty of containing some strange, and frankly disgusting, substances.
Are they natural? Technically. Are the gross? Definitely. I don't personally know anyone who would willingly eat a beaver's anus, do you?
Which leads us to our first, commonly-used 'natural' flavoring:
1. Castoreum aka part of a Beaver's sex gland
Castoreum is used as a flavoring for many things, from popcorn to ice cream to anything vanilla flavored.
This 'flavoring' comes from castor sacs within a beaver's butt. It's essentially a brown substance that the animal uses to mark its territory.
Why, do you ask, would anyone put this in food? Because reportedly the substance has a pleasant scent, which somehow makes it a candidate for flavoring food. It's also used for perfumes and air fresheners. How delightful!
2. Confectioner's glaze aka female insect secretion
Confectioner's glaze, also referred to as shellac and resinous glaze, is essentially bug juice. This flavoring is obtained by scraping the secretions of a small red bug, called 'lac,' from tree bark.
The female insect secretes the reportedly sticky substance to make a protective shell in which she lays her eggs.
This flavoring, pleasantly renamed confectioner's glaze, is used in many candies like Hershey's Milk Duds, as well as various cosmetics and chewing gum.
3. L-cysteine aka duck feathers, hog hair, or even human hair
L-cysteine is a common flavoring added to many bread products, like pizza dough and pastries. L-cysteine is extracted from a disturbing, though protein-rich, source - human hair.
According to one source, the human hair variety is generally obtained from Chinese women who sell it to support their families.
However, L-cysteine can also be derived from duck feathers and hog hair - which are certainly a better alternative to human hair, right?
4. Carmine & Cochineal aka crushed insect bodies
Carmine & Cochineal may also be listed on packaging as Cochineal Extract, Carmine, Crimson Lake, Natural Red 4, C.I. 75470, E120, or 'carminic acid.'
This substance is generally used as food coloring, as well as in cosmetics, especially lipstick, and it's extracted from the crushed bodies of cochineal insects.
Not to freak you out too much, but a cochineal insect is a a scale insect or parasite that lives on cacti. (If you prefer to be visually freaked out, just Google 'cochineal insects.')
The worst part is not that this is derived from insects, it's that it can cause serious allergic reactions, like asthmatic attacks and anaphylactic shock.
It's understandable if you're terrified to ever eat anything again, but the good news is that there are ways to uncover what you're putting in your mouth. Although FDA laws allow companies to simply label these ingredients as 'natural flavorings,' if you call the manufacturer, they will inform you on the specifics.
So next time you see that something is 'naturally flavored' on that ice cream you're just dying to try, call the company and inquire as to what substance is being used to flavor the product - otherwise you may be eating a big, delicious spoonful of beaver ass.
RYOT NOTE: One way to avoid eating gross substances is by eating fresh ingredients bought right from farmers in your own backyard. Local Harvest is an incredible site that allows you to find farmers markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area, where you can buy produce, grass-fed meats and many other goods. Click on the Action Box above this story to learn more, start buying local today and Become the News!
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