Are you aware of the various unexpected food and drinks that contain animal-derived ingredients, specifically from pigs?
It’s not just about avoiding pork chops, ham, and bacon. The food industry is clever in adding pork to our diets in the form of gelatin, enzymes, and other hidden ingredients.
From wine to chewing gum, from cereal to cream cheese, and even cosmetics and toiletries, pork by-products can be found in a variety of products.
In this article, we’ll explore some common foods that have hidden pork and how to identify them on the label.
So, let’s dive in and learn more about what’s really in our food!
What Foods Have Hidden Pork?
1. Wine: Gelatin, a product derived from pig body parts, is used in many wine purification processes.
2. Baking goods: Cysteine is used in many baking goods such as bread, to create a more extensible dough with improved pan flow. Cysteine is most often synthesized from hair, such as pig bristles.
3. Cereal: Many cereals are sugar-coated which can also contain gelatin.
4. Yogurt: Gelatin is used in many products, especially in the low-calorie variety.
5. Fruit Gum: Again gelatin is used in the production of fruit gums.
6. Chewing Gum: Stearic acid is used in many chewing gums. It is obtained from animal fats, mostly from a pig’s stomach.
7. Instant soup: Some seasonings in soup contain traces of bacon.
8. Cream Cheese: In some products, gelatin is used as a thickener.
9. Chips: ‘Bacon flavor’ is used in some branded products to enhance the flavor.
10. Juice: For purification of some juice (especially multivitamin-juice) gelatin is used.
11. Doritos, Cheetos, Welches grape jelly, Dunkin donuts, crest toothpaste, McDonald’s apple pies, and gummy bears contain pig enzymes. Look out for powdered cheese flavoring on chips and store-bought macaroni with cheese which can contain casein, whey, or animal-derived enzymes.
12. Some medications may also contain pork products; the most common is the gelatin coated tablet of the gelatin capsule (gel caps).
The Surprising Sources Of Pork In Our Food
Pork is a commonly consumed meat, but many people may not realize that it can also be found in unexpected food and drinks. Gelatin, a protein derived from pig body parts, is used in many food products as a thickening or stabilizing agent. Wine, for example, often contains gelatin as part of its purification process. Similarly, many cereals and low-calorie yogurts also contain gelatin. Fruit gums and chewing gum may also contain stearic acid, which is obtained from animal fats, mostly from a pig’s stomach.
Baking goods such as bread may contain cysteine, which is often synthesized from hair, such as pig bristles. Instant soup seasonings may contain traces of bacon, while cream cheese may use gelatin as a thickener. Some chips even use “bacon flavor” to enhance their taste. Multivitamin juice may also use gelatin for purification purposes.
It’s not just food products that can contain pork either. Some medications may also contain pork products, particularly the gelatin coated tablet or capsule.
In addition to gelatin, some foods may also contain pig enzymes. Doritos, Cheetos, Welches grape jelly, Dunkin Donuts, Crest toothpaste, McDonald’s apple pies, and gummy bears are just some examples of products that may use pig enzymes. Powdered cheese flavoring on chips and store-bought macaroni with cheese can also contain casein, whey, or animal-derived enzymes.
The Role Of Gelatin In Food Production
Gelatin is a protein derived from the collagen in cow or pig bones, skin, and connective tissues. It is a popular ingredient in the global food industry and has full application in wine, juice fining, confectioneries, dairy products, and meat products. It is a vital component that works as a gelling agent, stabilizer, emulsifier, adhesion, fining, binder, and foaming agent. Gelatin is used in many food products to improve texture and consistency. For example, it is used as a thickener in cream cheese and low-calorie yogurt. It is also used in fruit gums and chewing gum to provide elasticity and chewiness. In some branded chips, ‘bacon flavor’ is used to enhance the flavor of the product which contains pig enzymes.
Gelatin is also used in wine purification processes to remove impurities and clarify the wine. It is added during the fermentation process to attract impurities such as proteins and tannins. The gelatin forms a complex with these impurities which then settles at the bottom of the container, allowing the clear wine to be siphoned off.
In baking goods such as bread, cysteine is used to create a more extensible dough with improved pan flow. Cysteine is most often synthesized from hair, such as pig bristles. Many cereals are sugar-coated which can also contain gelatin. Instant soup seasonings may contain traces of bacon.
It is important to note that not all gelatin comes from pigs. It can also be derived from cows or fish. However, if you are looking to avoid animal-based products altogether, it is best to check the label carefully and look for alternatives such as agar-agar or carrageenan which are plant-based alternatives to gelatin.
How Enzymes Derived From Pigs Are Used In Food Processing
Enzymes are commonly used in food processing to affect the flavor, texture, aroma, color, and other food qualities. However, not all enzymes are derived from plant or microbial sources. Some enzymes are derived from animal sources, particularly pigs. These enzymes are used in various food products such as wine, baking goods, cereals, yogurt, fruit gum, chewing gum, instant soup, cream cheese, chips, and juice.
Gelatin is a product derived from pig body parts and is used in many wine purification processes. It is also used as a thickener in cream cheese and low-calorie yogurt. Cysteine is another enzyme that is synthesized from hair, such as pig bristles, and is used in many baking goods to create a more extensible dough with improved pan flow. Gelatin is also used in sugar-coated cereals and fruit gums.
Stearic acid is obtained from animal fats, mostly from a pig’s stomach, and is used in many chewing gums. Some seasonings in instant soup contain traces of bacon. ‘Bacon flavor’ is used in some branded products to enhance flavor, including chips. For purification of some juice (especially multivitamin-juice), gelatin is also used.
It’s important to note that enzymes are not listed as food ingredients because they are regarded as ‘processing aids’, which do not have to be mentioned on food labels. Although most enzymes are inactivated (broken down) during processing and are no longer technically active in the final product, a residue will often remain. Companies use pig enzymes because they are cost-effective and widely available. Therefore, it’s essential to check the label carefully for any animal-derived ingredients to reduce your intake of animal-based products.
The Presence Of Pork In Alcoholic Beverages
Alcoholic beverages may seem like an unlikely source of hidden pork, but some drinks may contain gelatin, which is derived from pig body parts. Gelatin is often used in the clarification and filtration processes of wine and beer production. It is added to the liquid to remove impurities and sediment, and then removed before the final product is bottled. Gelatin can also be found in some mixed drinks, especially those that are pre-mixed or bottled. It is used as a stabilizer to prevent separation of ingredients and to improve the texture of the drink. It is important to note that not all alcoholic beverages contain gelatin, but it is worth checking the label or contacting the manufacturer to confirm if you have dietary restrictions.
Pork In Common Snacks And Desserts
Pork is not just limited to entrees and savory dishes, as it can also be found in many common snacks and desserts. Gelatin, a product derived from pig body parts, is a popular ingredient in many food items, including wine, yogurt, fruit gum, and cereal. It is also used as a thickener in cream cheese and some low-calorie products.
Chewing gum often contains stearic acid, which is obtained from animal fats, mostly from a pig’s stomach. Bacon flavoring is used in some branded chips to enhance the taste, and even some instant soups contain traces of bacon.
Baking goods such as bread often use cysteine to create a more extensible dough with improved pan flow. Cysteine is most often synthesized from hair, such as pig bristles.
It’s not just food items that may contain hidden pork products. Some medications may also contain gelatin-coated tablets or gel caps made from pig-derived gelatin.
It’s important to check the ingredients list carefully and familiarize yourself with terms such as lard, animal fat, animal glyceride, hydrolyzed animal protein, glycerin, and gelatin on labels to reduce your intake of animal-based products. By being aware of these hidden pork ingredients in common snacks and desserts, you can make informed choices about what you consume.
Identifying Hidden Pork On Food Labels
When it comes to identifying hidden pork on food labels, it’s important to pay close attention to the ingredients listed. Some common ingredients derived from pigs include gelatin, cysteine, stearic acid, and pig enzymes.
Gelatin is a product derived from pig body parts and is used in many food products, including wine, low-calorie yogurt, fruit gum, and cream cheese. Cysteine is often synthesized from pig bristles and is used in many baking goods such as bread. Stearic acid is obtained from animal fats, mostly from a pig’s stomach, and is used in many chewing gums.
When it comes to chips and other snack foods, it’s important to look out for “bacon flavor” or powdered cheese flavoring which can contain casein, whey, or animal-derived enzymes. Some seasonings in instant soup may also contain traces of bacon.
It’s also important to note that some medications may contain pork products such as gelatin coated tablets or gel caps. When in doubt, it’s always best to do some research and reach out to the manufacturer for clarification on the ingredients used in their products.