Gross Ingredients That Can Be Found In Your Favorite Products

When we think of what foods contain, we tend to focus on stuff like protein, fat, carbohydrates, and fiber. If it's too high or low in certain areas, we write it off as being unhealthy; otherwise, many of us usually deem it okay. However, these aren't the only elements of food that we need to consider.

Something else that we have to factor in is the ingredients that make up a lot of what we eat. People sometimes forget to pay attention to these. However, after seeing some of the gross ingredients in our favorite foods, we won't be doing that anymore.

Baked goods may contain L-cysteine synthesized from human hair

Surely there can't be anything untoward in terms of bread and baked goods, right? Well, you might want to think again. Many of the baked goods that you see in commercials and the ones you find in the grocery store aren't quite as perfect as they may seem. That's because most of them reportedly contain something called L-cysteine.

This ingredient is an amino acid that gives these baked goods the shine you expect to see from such food. What's more, it also helps them to have a longer shelf life. Unfortunately, what's so gross about this addition is the fact that L-cysteine is sometimes synthesized from human hair. So, it's a no from us.

Jelly beans apparently have shiny shells because of lac bug secretions

There are so many different candies out there, but jelly beans go down particularly well with people across the globe. With their shiny shell and their gooey insides, jelly beans are delicious and come in so many flavors to suit a wide variety of tastes. However, have you ever wondered how a Jelly Bean's shell actually gets so shiny?

Well, it apparently has something to do with one particular ingredient in this recipe called shellac. Most people typically put this stuff on their nails, but they have no idea where it comes from – or why it's in their food. Shellac is essentially lac bug secretions, and this ingredient is put in jelly beans to give them their iconic appearance.

Subway sandwiches apparently don't reveal the nutritional values of their condiments 

Subway is one of the most famous sandwich stores in the world, and this company sells to millions of customers every single year. Many people head to this place because they want a healthier lunch alternative, and it's fair to say that their sandwiches can be reasonably healthy. However, their advertised nutritional values reportedly don't include their condiments.

These sauces and sides seem to bump up the number of calories when added to the actual sandwich – which is probably why Subway chooses to keep their nutritional values secret. So, if you want to keep your lunches healthy, you might just have to embrace a dry Subway sandwich. Otherwise, those footlongs might be doing more harm than good.

Ranch dressing contains an ingredient typically used to prevent sunburn

Everyone loves a bit of ranch dressing, right? It's the kind of thing that you can drizzle over anything or dip any food into to add some delicious flavor. However, we can't help but wonder if you would think differently about including ranch dressing on everything if you knew exactly what ingredients go into this beloved condiment.

While ranch dressing may be known for its white color, what you might not realize is that this coloring actually comes from titanium dioxide. If you don't know much about this long-named ingredient, all you need to know is that it's actually the same ingredient that's used in sunscreen to stop you from burning. Not so delicious now, huh?

Worcestershire Sauce apparently requires years of gross preparation to make

Worcestershire Sauce is one of those products that has its share of haters, but there's no doubt about the fact that plenty of people across the globe love it. They drizzle it on their dinner, they bake it into their home bakes, and some people even put it in their drinks if you can believe it.

It's known for its distinctive flavor, but what you might not realize is that this flavor has come from a rather weird and bizarre process. That's because Worcestershire Sauce is made from pickled onions and garlic that are soaked in vinegar for two years before sitting in rotten anchovies for a few more months. Now we understand all the hate.

Skittles are apparently colorful because they contain crushed up bugs

If you've ever tasted the rainbow, you'll know that Skittles are pretty delicious. Not only do they taste good, but the mix of colors is pretty fun to look at too. However, have you ever thought about where these bright colors actually come from? We hate to break it to you, but they're not something that are naturally produced.

Although they do technically come from the natural world, it seems that the colors are sourced from bugs, of all things. Carmine is one of the most prominent ingredients in Skittles, and this ingredient is essentially just crushed-up bugs that are then turned into food coloring. We don't think we'll be tasting the rainbow any longer.

Brightly colored oranges may contain a carcinogenic artificial dye

If you're in the mood for an orange, you're probably going to grab the one that's the most brightly colored. After all, we tend to associate bright colors with quality, and there's no denying this citrus fruit looks so much better when it's this striking. However, don't go thinking that this brightness occurs naturally because that's unfortunately not the case.

It turns out that we should actually avoid brightly colored oranges because that means that they have been injected with an artificial dye by the name of Citrus Red 2. This dye is almost completely banned in the United States because it's classified as carcinogenic, and the only thing it's allowed for is the coloring of oranges.

Raspberry yogurt supposedly gets its color from crushed cochineal bugs

If you're the kind of person that likes to eat yogurt, it's possible that you might have a taste for raspberry-flavored ones. Whether you're all about the fruit bits or prefer a smooth yogurt, there's something that these two types of yogurt have in common. It's an ingredient that you would probably rather the food be without.

It seems that raspberry yogurt is normally dyed with something called carmine, which gives it its distinctive coloring. However, the pigment of carmine is made through the process of crushing cochineal bugs. So, as with some of these other foods, that means that you're essentially eating crushed bugs when you snack on a pot of raspberry yogurt.

Packets of shredded cheese may be full of wood pulp

Although you can buy a normal block of cheese from the grocery store and then grate that at home, sometimes it's just easier to get a bag of shredded cheese that's ready to go. It's quick, it's simple, and sometimes it's even a lot cheaper. However, it seems as though there may be a good reason to avoid this product.

Shredded cheese may look as though it's just a regular block of cheese that's been ground into smaller pieces. However, the reality is that much of it actually consists of wood pulp. Yes, the official name for this wood pulp will appear as "cellulose" on the packaging, but it's essentially ground-up wood chips that are bulking up the packets.

Certain adult beverages reportedly contain bone marrow, chitin, and even blood

After a long day at work, you may like to kick back with a glass or two of something more adult at dinner. However, do you pay much attention to what you're actually drinking when you do this? Most people only focus on the number of units in the bottle and the strength of what's inside rather than the ingredients.

It might be time to change that, though, given some of the gross additions that certain adult beverages reportedly contain. Included in the list are things like bone marrow, fish oil, and maybe even chitin, which is fiber you can get from crustacean shells. As if that wasn't enough, some companies also allegedly add blood to their drinks.

Chicken is supposedly less rich in protein than it once was

If you're the kind of person that loves to eat a lot of chicken because it's packed with protein, you might wish to look away. We're about to hit you with some unpleasant facts courtesy of the London Metropolitan University. It seems they conducted research into this favored meat, and what they unearthed could put you off this food forever.

It seems that over the years, the quality of this meat has actually been declining. While you might not have noticed a significant difference, it seems that the amount of protein that chicken provides is much lower than it used to be. Meanwhile, the fat content has allegedly increased, suggesting this is not the food to be eating in bulk.

Certain adult beverages feature Isinglass, an ingredient found in fish bladders

There's nothing better than cracking open a cold one at the end of the day, right? Drinks like this are universally loved across the globe, although many people who enjoy such adult beverages don't actually know about how they're made. That might be a good thing, given some of the gross ingredients that are apparently involved in the process.

Apparently, one ingredient included in such adult beverages is Isinglass. If you've never heard of this before, it's apparently something that's primarily found in fish bladders. Thankfully, more and more companies are choosing to remove this ingredient from their recipes. However, there are still some places that like to include Isinglass in their refreshing - or perhaps not so refreshing - beverages.

McDonald's Chicken Nuggets reportedly only contain 50% chicken

McDonald's is arguably one of the most famous fast food chains that this world has to offer, and it's fair to say that their chicken nuggets are their pride and glory. Yet, we can't help but wonder if people would be so willing to eat a share box to themselves if they knew what these nuggets are actually made with.

While chicken might be in the name, that doesn't actually mean it's the only thing they contain. It's reportedly been suggested that only around 50% of the chicken nuggets at McDonald's are actually made from chicken. The other 50% is supposedly made up of various synthetic ingredients, including dimethylpolysiloxane, which can apparently be found in breast implants.

Chewing gum is apparently chewy because of some unfortunate ingredients

Chewing gum is one of those products that you can find anywhere, and we're not just talking about in grocery stores. Many of us have probably experienced finding used gum somewhere we'd rather not. Unfortunately, after looking at the ingredients that go into this stuff, it seems this might not actually be the grossest thing about it.

Apparently, the ingredient that tends to make chewing gum so chewy, is something called lanolin. Not heard of it before? You probably don't have much farming experience then because it's apparently secreted from the skin glands of sheep. While there are many companies that don't use this, we wouldn't say that replacing it with synthetic rubber is exactly better.

McDonald's Filet-O-Fish's questionable main ingredient is supposedly sourced unsustainably

Fish fans have probably made their way to the golden arches to try their famous Filet-O-Fish over the years. However, do you have any idea what fish you're actually eating when you order one of these? Instead of using fairly common catches like cod or plaice, McDonald's actually uses a blue grenadier fish for their Filet-O-Fish recipe.

What you might not realize is that this fish – often called a hoki – is not the kind of fish that can be found everywhere. It's normally located off the coast of New Zealand, and the fishing of this species has been criticized for being completely unsustainable. In fact, many petitions have called for McDonald's to use a different fish.

Taco Bell's tacos supposedly contain just 35% meat

The tacos at Taco Bell are perhaps the most popular things on the menu, which will probably come as little surprise to many. After all, they wouldn't call themselves Taco Bell if they didn't pride themselves on their tacos, right? Unfortunately, just because it's a popular choice, that doesn't mean the meat it contains is, well, 100% meat.

It seems that a lot of fast food restaurants seem to be having this problem of using additional ingredients in what's supposed to just be a plain serving of meat. One particular lawsuit against Taco Bell suggested that their tacos were actually made from just 35% meat – with the other 65% coming from all kinds of different ingredients.

Chocolate can apparently contain insects and rodent hair, according to the FDA

Chocolate is one of those foods that most people just can't seem to get enough of, and we understand why. This stuff can be addictive, and it tastes pretty amazing, too. However, do you know exactly what you're tasting when you chow down on this food? It turns out you might be eating insects and rodent hair.

There are countless rules and regulations in place when it comes to the quality of food and its ingredients, but the FDA has some rather strange rules about chocolate. In their eyes, chocolate is still acceptable to be sold even if it has 60 insect fragments within the recipe, as well as one rodent hair per 100 grams.

The inside of Twinkies is apparently made of Crisco

There's nothing better than opening a brand new box of Twinkies and being able to taste the fluffy goodness inside of the cake. Anyone who has eaten a Twinkie before may well have imagined that this white stuff was made from cream or something associated with sugar and milk. Yet, that isn't the case at all. 

The creamy inside of this sweet treat is actually Crisco, which many people may have heard of or even used before. It's a form of vegetable shortening that's usually used for binding cakes and pastries together but is also apparently a popular addition to our beloved Twinkies. Well, maybe not so beloved now that the secret is out.

Potato chips might contain sodium bisulfite that's used in toilet cleaners

You just can't go wrong with potato chips, can you? Actually, it seems as though you can. There's no denying that there are many natural and organic potato chips out there made using just fried or baked potatoes. However, some of the biggest names on the grocery store shelves are made using horrible ingredients that we'd rather avoid.

Sodium bisulfite is supposedly a prominent ingredient in some versions of potato chips, which is pretty concerning. After all, sodium bisulfite is an ingredient that can also be found in toilet cleaners. As if that wasn't enough, this stuff is reportedly used to bleach the potatoes to ensure they look good several months down the line.

Canned mushrooms can allegedly contain dozens of maggots

While the world might be divided on whether mushrooms are delicious or disgusting, there's a fair number of people who seem to enjoy eating them from a can. Well, buying canned vegetables can be so much easier than buying fresh ones. However, you might want to watch out for maggots if canned mushrooms are your thing.

These critters are extremely attracted to canned mushrooms, and it's not uncommon to find them when you open up the lid. In fact, the FDA knows this can happen, which is why their guidelines don't allow more than around 30 maggots per can. We don't know about you, but we'd say just one maggot per can was too much.

Ground beef reportedly contains pink slime to bulk it up

There's a good chance that you might cook with ground beef on a regular basis, given that this stuff is great for making tacos or other delicious dishes. Thanks to the name of this food, it would be easy to assume that ground beef is just beef that has been ground up into smaller pieces, right?

Well, you'd think so, but that allegedly isn't the case. Many companies that produce ground beef actually add pink slime to their recipes, as this helps to bulk out the beef without needing to use as much expensive meat. Unfortunately, much of this pink slime is made from ammonia, which isn't what you want to be filling your body with.

Coffee creamers contain questionable ingredients, whether they're dairy-free or not

Black coffee tends to be too strong for some people, which is why so many choose to put creamer in their cups of joe. This stuff is ready-made for whenever you need it, and there are non-dairy varieties for those who are lactose intolerant. However, it seems you should be aware of some nasty additions to these.

Apparently, most of these products are filled to the brim with oils that are used to mimic the taste and texture of real milk. As if that wasn't enough, dairy creamers are just as bad because they include highly flammable sodium aluminosilicate. So, while a black coffee might be a little powerful, it could actually be your best option.

Wendy's chili reportedly contains silicon dioxide found in sand and glass

If you've ever been to Wendy's before, have you tried out their chili? If so, you might have been impressed with the taste, texture, and smell of the food. You may well have even loved the little crackers that came with it. Unfortunately, despite all these positives, it appears this stuff allegedly doesn't have the best ingredients.

One of the worst things about the dish is that it's full of something called silicon dioxide. This is often called sand or glass powder because it can be found in both of these items. It's a little worrying that there might be sand and glass in your food, but Wendy's doesn't want you to know that.

Applebee's Oriental Chicken Salad apparently isn't as healthy as it sounds

Fast food chains are typically considered unhealthy places. However, these restaurants do often have dishes designed to be a healthier alternative to the burgers, tacos, nuggets, and other dishes on the menu. The Oriental Chicken Salad is one such option at Applebee's, although the notion that it's healthy might be somewhat misleading, given what it contains.

Apparently, the nutritional values are on par with a meal containing a McDonald's Big Mac with French fries and a Coca-Cola. That's incredibly concerning, given it's a salad dish, something that people will typically only pick because they want a healthy option. Unfortunately, as this dish is supposedly laden with calories, salt, and fat, it could be worth avoiding.

Spaghetti bolognese products were found to contain horse meat in the past

In 2013, much of Europe and other areas across the world were hit with a scandal that left many people's stomachs turning. It was discovered that the meat products that had made their way into various supermarkets and grocery stores actually contained horse meat. This was especially true for one particular grocery store by the name of Tesco.

Their own spaghetti bolognese ready-meal was tested, and the results noted that some of the meals contained up to 100% horse meat. This scandal caused a huge stir among customers, who couldn't believe that their beef was actually horse meat. Of course, Tesco wasn't the only supermarket to be caught out, but they seemingly bore the brunt of the controversy.

Jello is reportedly made with gelatin which comes from animal products

Most of us have probably eaten Jello on more than one occasion, especially as this food often appears in a variety of other products. For instance, jello can be found in certain candies, marshmallows, and so much more. However, do you know what jello is actually made from? The answer may put you off this sweet treat moving forward.

It seems that jello contains gelatin, which is made from collagen. If you're wondering how collagen is produced, you might be a little freaked out to know that this protein is extracted from animal skin and bones that are boiled at high temperatures. Due to this, jello actually isn’t suitable for those who don't eat animal products.