Let’s face it, most of us never really look at ingredients in food. We don’t even try and bother trying to pronounce those mile long words on the back of the label. However, I will be telling you about ingredients in food that you can pronounce, but you won’t be able to believe that you are actually eating it.
1. Maraschino Cherry
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You know those little red cherries that come in a jar? The one’s you put on desserts? Well if you’ve ever gone cherry picking, you would know that normal cherries are a deep red, and go bad rather quickly. However, these little cherries are actually bleached and dyed red so they can keep their fresh, eye popping color. Bleach is one of my favorite ingredients in food. How about you?
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2. Hot Dogs
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Hot Dogs are made by dozens of companies all around the world, but each one has their own special recipe. Hot dogs are generally made from meat, meat fat, bones, egg whites, spices, and filler. Filler generally contains things like oatmeal, flour, bread crumbs, and anything else that falls into the giant mixer. This includes rats and bugs. Yum.
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Hot dogs can be served in a variety of ways, from boiled to grilled to steamed. They are often served on a bun with condiments such as ketchup, mustard, relish, and onions. Hot dogs are also popularly served with chili, cheese, and coleslaw. Hot dogs are a popular food item at baseball stadiums, carnivals, and other outdoor events. In some countries, hot dogs are served with a variety of toppings such as cabbage, pickles, mayonnaise, and sauerkraut. Hot dogs are often eaten with a side dish such as french fries, onion rings, or potato chips.
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3. Chicken McNuggets
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I feel like anything from McDonalds is sketchy to eat in its own special way. However McNuggets tend to be in the same boat as hot dogs. Any scraps that are left over from the chicken are ground up into a paste, shaped into nuggets, breadcrumbed and fried. These also include rats, bugs and bones. Still hungry?
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4. Starbucks Strawberry Frappuccino
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You might think that the strawberry Frappuccino looks so appetizing with its pinkish rosy color. But guess where that color comes from? South American Beetles! Yeah, the bug is called a cochineal beetle, which is dried and crushed up and squeezed until their coloring comes out. However, these little bugs are FDA approved and are used in pretty much anything artificially red.
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As part of taking control over your health and wellbeing, it's important to pay attention to the amount of sugar you consume daily. Did you ever wonder how many grams of sugar are in a teaspoon? Understanding this can help you make healthier choices and avoid those sneaky sugars that add up throughout the day. No doubt, your body will thank you!
5. Vanilla, Strawberry, and Raspberry Ice Cream
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If you thought beetle juice was bad, you’ll never want to eat ice cream again. Also approved by the FDA, it is considered natural flavoring so you won’t be able to read this ingredient on the back label. Ready? Beaver anal glands are in your ice cream! I was eating ice cream while doing research for this article, and I chucked it into the garbage. I’m not a fan of eating beaver butt.
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In a twist that turns the beloved scoop into a bizarre hodgepodge, castoreum, which is secreted from the castor sacs of beavers, has been added to some food products as a natural flavoring. You might think nothing can top the creamy delight of these flavors until you learn that this secretion—often noted for its vanilla scent—is utilized in both perfumes and foods. Next time you dig into that delectable dessert, consider the possibility of this wild ingredient contributing to the rich undertones. Shocking, right? But fear not, it’s becoming rarer on ingredient lists nowadays.
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6. Shiny Candy
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Jelly beans, M&M’s, candy corn, and other shiny candy is covered in shellac, which is made from secretions of the female Kerria lacca, an insect native to Thailand. This is another beetle that you will be eating.
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7. Cinnamon
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This is more of an ingredient than an actual food, but I just thought that I would let you all know that the FDA approves 22 rat hairs in each bottle of cinnamon. The good news is that they're ground up so you can't actually see them.
I can probably guess that you are really grossed out right now, and you might actually think twice about going into Starbucks, or getting that ice cream for a movie night. It is always better to eat natural foods like fruits and vegetables because you know exactly what they’re made of. The better you eat, the better you’ll feel. Plus you won’t have to worry about eating bleach or beaver butt.
Sources: health.com and theguardian.com
EST 2005
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