6. Human or hog hair, or duck feathers
When you see L-Cysteine on the ingredient label for bread or bagels, know that it’s an amino acid derived from dissolved human hair (often from China) or duck feathers. Food manufacturers use the ingredient as a commercial dough conditioner, meant to improve the texture of breads and baked goods.
7. Sprayed-on viruses
To combat the threat of listeria, the FDA allows food producers to spray deli meats with the same bacteriophages that hospitals use to kill germs.
8. Insect parts
The female Lac beetle gives us the ingredient shellac—sometimes called “confectioner’s glaze”—used to make candy and fruit (and furniture) shiny. Carmine, commonly used as a red food coloring for fruit juices and candy, is made from the shells of desert beetles.
9. Wood pulp
Tiny pieces of plant fibers and wood called powdered cellulose are used to make some types of low-fat ice cream seem more creamy. It’s also used to prevent some shredded cheese from clumping.