https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/898845...-dead-maggots/
The hidden animal parts in your favourite foods – from sweets made from beavers’ bums to mushrooms laced with maggots
Following the news that M&S have removed all traces of gelatin from their Percy Pigs, Sun Online reveals the other food with sneaky meaty bits in
MARKS and Spencer have caused quite a divide this week after making their Percy Pigs vegetarian by removing the gelatin.
Piers Morgan was one of many Percy Pig fans outraged by the change, spitting them out live on air during Good Morning Britain yesterday and claiming the new ones taste disgusting.
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Percy Pigs are now all vegetarian - but meat lovers are not happyGelatin is a protein obtained by boiling animal skin, tendons, ligaments, and bones from cows and pigs with water - which sounds foul, even if it tastes good.
So what other gross things go into your favourite foods to make them taste oh-so-delicious?
What? Shellac from Thai insects
Where? Sweets and popcorn
Jelly bean lovers, look away now.
Shiny treats like jelly beans and glazed popcorn are often coated with shellac, the shiny stuff you put on your nails and polish your furniture with.
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The shiny surface of jelly beans is made from bug secretions This sticky substance is alarmingly derived from secretions of the female Kerria lacca- an insect native to Thailand.
Brands like Hershey’s, Jelly Belly jellybeans, Willy Wonka and even Maraschino cherries use it to make their sweet treats shine.
What? Anal secretion of beavers
Where? Foods labelled with ‘natural flavouring’
Brace yourselves. ‘Natural flavouring’ for strawberry flavoured sweets isn't actually derived from the fruit itself.
Some products take their flavouring from extracts of the anal secretion beavers make to mark their territories.
The animals are anaesthetised and then its nether regions are ‘milked’ because the sweet ‘musky’ smell it carries enhances other flavourings.
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Strawberry products take their flavouring from extracts of the anal secretion beavers make to mark their territoriesGETTY - CONTRIBUTOR
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Beavers are put to sleep and have their bottoms 'milked'Luckily, because of the way it’s sourced, it’s quite expensive and is more commonly found in perfumes - but due to tricky labelling of the substance, it’s not known which high street brands do use it, although vegan brands such as Alpro say they don’t.
What? Carmine aka crushed bugs
Where? In ANYTHING dyed red such as Mr Kipling’s cakes
Cochineal insects - tiny 5mm long red bugs - are native to Latin America and millions are harvested then crushed up every year to produce the colouring.
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Skittles are made using the colouringSounds gross, but they’re a staple of the global food industry without us realising – found in everything from yogurts and ice creams, to fruit pies, soft drinks, cupcakes and donuts.
Starbucks have stopped using them in coffee since complaints were made in 2012 - but Mr Kipling cakes still use them.
They’re also found in Skittles and Hartley’s Jelly.
What? L-Cysteine - amino acid derived from dog or human hair and duck feathers
Where? Bagels, bread and donuts
L-cysteine is an amino acid that is used in commercial breads to extend the shelf life, and is mainly made up of the human hair swept from the floors of Chinese barbers.
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Doughnuts and bagels use the amino acidDog hairs and duck or hen feathers are also used, too. The fluff is gathered into a pot and boiled with hydrochloric acid to produce L-Cysteine.
Burger King use it in their buns and Dunkin Donuts in the US admit to using it. Yummy.
What? Rennet – calves stomach
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