There’s a WHAT in My banana?16 Seemingly Vegetarian Products

Vegetarian or not, it can be surprising-- and frankly, downright disturbing-- to find out that seemingly ordinary foodstuffs are riddled with animal byproducts. There’s nothing new about the controversy swirling around the ingredients listed on food labels. But today’s food industry has gotten to the point where it will hastily slap on a gimmicky and generic food label just to make a quick buck or two. Gone are the days where companies made their products by hand out of genuine love for the customer who would be receiving it. The harsh reality of the food business is that it has become largely commercialized and mechanized. The bottom line? To appeal to the wallets rather than the hearts of the masses of consumers that frequent their stores. If you’re interested in knowing what exactly “slips” into your food on a daily basis, keep reading. But be warned, this list isn’t for the faint of heart:

1. Bread products- Processed bread products contain an enzyme called L. Cysteine that’s used as a softening agent to condition the dough. It often comes from bird feathers or human hair. And if you didn’t know about it, don’t worry because it’s everywhere. You can find it in the garlic bread at Pizza Hut, the bagels at Dunkin Donuts, and the baked apple pie/cinnamon rolls/baked honey wheat rolls at McDonalds.

2. Beer and wine- Alcoholic beverages like these require fining, a process that uses different materials to attract and filter out loose particles. Often times, isinglass (a gelatinous membrane from the bladders of tropical fish) is used to clarify these drinks. Other notable nonvegan items used include egg white albumin (a type of protein found in the clear liquid of eggs), gelatin (the collagen protein made after boiling animal tendons/bones), and casein (a cow-derived protein found in milk). .

3. Produce- Bananas are often sprayed with pesticides to prolong shelf life and destroy harmful insects. Chitosan, a bacteria-fighting compound derived from shellfish, has found its way into the arsenal of pesticides used on our fruits and vegetables. If you’re looking to keep the cast of Spongebob off your banana, go the organic route. On the other hand, some fruits come with the natural flavorings of “other” ingredients. For example, when female wasps go to pollinate figs, they often get trapped inside. Fortunately or unfortunately (you decide), the fruit contains enzymes that break the corpse down into protein that is then incorporated into the fruit. So if you love figs, chances are you also love the flavor of wasps.

4. Vanilla-flavored foods- Ever wondered what “natural flavorings” means? Well, it’s definitely all-natural considering it came from a beaver’s butt. To give products like ice cream and pudding that musky vanilla taste, food scientists use castoreum, a beaver’s anal secretions used for marking territory. Better yet, the FDA classifies castoreum as GRAS or Generally Recognized As Safe. (Emphasis on “generally.”)

5. White sugar- If you look on a packet of sugar, the only ingredient you’ll find is sugar. But there’s also traces of animal bones. To get that classic pearly-white look, sugar is filtered and bleached using charred cattle bone. This doesn’t just apply to white sugar though... even confectioners’ sugar and brown sugar are refined this way.

6. Orange Juice- You may be starting off your morning with more than just a sweet cup of OJ. Because oranges don’t have many of the health benefits that orange juice packaging may tout, manufacturers will inject a little extra “something” to make it appeal to customers. To fortify the juice with vitamin D and omega-3s, the product usually contains fish oil and lanolin from sheep’s wool to get these health benefits.

7. Potato Chips- Even chips can contain nonvegan ingredients. Barbecue flavors often use chicken fat to get that authentic fresh-off-the-grill taste. And some utilize pig enzymes for zesty cheese flavors. One notable example is the FritoLay company (check their website for more details.)

8. Peanuts- Reaching for a bowl of mixed nuts? You may want to put your hand down when you realize that they often use gelatin (the collagen protein found after boiling animal bones) to get the flavorings to better adhere to the nut.

9. Candy- Candies have a whole host of nonvegan ingredients. Skittles, Starbursts, Junior mints, Trident gum, M&M's, Snicker bars, Peeps, gummy bears, and candy corn often contain gelatin. Others have a bright red coloring that comes from the bodies of crushed female dactylopius coccus Costa insects. This is often disguised on food labels as “Natural Red #4,” “cochineal,” “carmine,” or “carminic acid.” It’s also found in Nesquik and Starbucks drinks, cake mixes, and Dannon yogurt. And finally, the shiny glow of candy? It’s just shellac, a resin secreted from the rear end of the female lac bug. You probably know it as “confectioner’s glaze.” On the bright side, it’s also found in manicures, furniture polish, hairspray, and agricultural fertilizer. Tasty!

10. Marshmallow- In case you didn't already know, marshmallows are loaded with gelatin. And yes, that means Rice Krispies and s'mores aren't vegan either.

11. Altoids- Even Altoids, everyone's favorite mints, contain gelatin. (But why… they aren’t even gelatinous?!)

12. Non-fat yogurt- Ever wonder how even without the fat, yogurt keeps that creamy texture? Well, the answer is gelatin. The answer is always gelatin.

13. Refried beans and tortillas- These burrito staples are often cooked in lard, or pig fat. Brb, postponing Taco Tuesday.

14. Sauces, dips, and dressings- Whether you're dousing your meals in puttanesca sauce, Caesar dressing, or Worcestershire sauce, beware. These zesty condiments often feature anchovies. Another common culprit? Olive tapenade.

15. Parmesan cheese- Go easy when it comes to sprinkling this on your pasta. Parmesan--and many other cheeses for that matter-- use rennet. Rennet is the curdled milk from the stomach of an unweaned calf and contains enzymes helpful for turning milk into cheese

16. Vegetarian soups- Soups that seem vegetarian like “Broccoli and cheddar”, “French onion”, and other vegetable soups often use beef or chicken stock as a base. Consider changing your order at Panera Bread.

Whether your diet is restricted or not, it is important to be aware of what is going into your food these days. This list is definite proof of that. If you’re looking to steer clear of the not-so-safe ingredients mentioned above, be sure to look closely at food labels, research what you don’t know, and if possible, try and go for an actual organic or vegan/vegetarian option.

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