5 Scary Things You Didn’t Know About Food Processing

If there is anything the food industry is against, it is letting you have total control of what you consume. In fact, the food industry takes advantage of our ignorance on food processing by launching strategic, convincing yet false marketing campaigns. 

Albeit, some of the foods we consume seem harmless, the fact that the food industry has to add additives to our snacks speaks a lot about how far from ‘natural’ our food is. Here are some scary facts that you probably did not know about food processing.

1. You Might Be Consuming Coal Tar

Coal Tar is typically listed under ‘ingredients’ as Food coloring. When food processing companies began processing synthetic food almost a century ago, they relied on coal tar, which is a byproduct of carbonized coal. Although food manufacturers claimed to have eliminated the product, its alternative (oil) isn't much better. 

2. Jars of Peanut Butter Contain Rodent Hair and Insect Fragments

According to FDA, peanut butter consists of 30 or more insect fragments per 100g and one or more rodent hairs per 100g. With these numbers, it means that an 18-ounce peanut jar has around 510g, meaning that each jar has approximately 150 and above insect fragments and five rodent hairs. This is disgusting, right?

3. There Is No Such Thing As ‘Fat-Free’ Half-And-Half As Claimed By Land O’Lakes

Half-and-half dairy products are defined as 50% cream and 50% milk. The cream is fat meaning fat-free half, and half cannot exist. It is usually a Skim milk –to which an artificial cream flavour and a thickening agent have been added.

4. ‘Natural’ Vanilla, Raspberry, And Strawberry Flavouring Is Manufactured From The Beaver’s Anal Gland

The additive to the flavours mentioned above is known as castoreum. This additive is the excrement of a beaver’s castor sacs. Castoreum isn't only used in some ice creams, but it is also an additive in yoghurt, ice tea, fruit-flavored drinks, gelatin, and candy. However, to be fair to castoreum, it is FDA approved.

5. Cereals Have Jet Fuel Additive

The jet fuel additive is listed as BHT (Butylated hydroxytoluene) under ingredients. BHT falls in the ‘others’ category. This antioxidant feature in cereals helps in keeping foods fresh for an extended period. So you will be consuming a similar chemical compound that is found in most petroleum products, i.e. the jet fuel.

Rest assured

we are not saying that none of the food processors boosting of providing a healthy source of nutrients can't be indeed trusted. Some legitimate food manufacturers’ care about their customers. But, some of these companies don't have the right knowledge about food processing. Our conventional food processing is failing us. Certainly, there should be something better. Don't you agree?

Certainly, there is. Gentle Processing^TM a green technology is a solution. To find out more about Gentle Processing^TM, its food processing features and why every food processing company should adopt the Gentle Processing practices visit Gentle Processing^TM.