If you make the choice to not use anything containing animal products, you really have to do your research. Animal products in all sorts of forms turn up in all sorts of places. Hre are some you might not know about:
1. Perfume
You know your favorite perfume is a combination of so many ingredients, but do you know it may also contain castoreum? It's basically an ingredient found in beavers' castor sacs, which is basically a gland located between the base of its tail and its pelvis. If the scent smells like vanilla, this may be due to castoreum. Go check the label again!
2. Plastic Bags
It surprises no one to know that plastic commercial shopping bags contain a variety of chemicals, but it may be news to some that these bags often contain "slip agents", which come from the stearic acid in animal fat. During manufacturing, these chemicals help prevent the polymers from sticking to metals. By the way, the "slip agents" aren't limited to plastic bags – your bike tires may also contain these elements.
3. Beer
Beer is among the many things containing animal products. Guinness is one great example, as it contains Isinglass, a chemical you usually find in fish bladders. The reason to use Isinglass is that it gathers stray yeast cells and makes the fermentation process more efficient by solidifying yeast cells into a mass.
4. Downy
Have you ever wondered why Downy makes your clothes feel soft after a single wash? That's not magic – that's only because the detergent contains a derivative of rendered sheep, cattle, and horse fat. They mix the fat with ammonium to create a type of ammonium compound to leave a coating on your clothes that produces the softness you love.
5. Condoms
Your animal instinct may take over when you're in the middle of a steamy romance session with your partner, but something 'animal-ish' is also there in the condom he’s wearing. It may contain casein, a protein usually found in animal milk which serves as a lubricant. By the way, some brands have already gone vegan.
6. Nail Polish and Lipstick
Okay ladies, it's true that you cannot keep changing men, so you'll have to settle for changing your 'lipstick' (obviously!). But, it seems that you will have to be more careful when selecting the new one because shimmery cosmetics, including lipstick and nail polish make use of guanine, an ingredient obtained from fish scales.
7. Cake Mixes
Many cake mixes contain beef fat to minimize the need of additional ingredients. Some opt for dehydrated versions of beef fat, while others use its oil form. Some companies still use beef fat in cupcakes. We're not taking names, so be sure to do your own research when buying cakes.
8. Red Candy
You may be aware of how many calories are there in ice cream, but you may not know that ice cream, candy, and other red foods may contain a powder called carmine, which is obtained from red cochineal beetles. The FDA has stopped considering it "artificial coloring" and now wants manufacturers to mention carmine clearly on food labels.
9. Cigarettes
Now this one's a shocker for smokers – hemoglobin derived originally from pig's blood is used in 'some' cigarette filters. It was confirmed in a story published in 2010 by the University of Sydney Professor in Public Health. Is it enough to make you quit smoking?
Were you as surprised as I was by some of these?
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are there animal products in some skincare items?
- Yes, many skincare products contain ingredients like collagen or lanolin derived from animals.
- Do some candies have animal-derived ingredients?
- Absolutely, candies often contain gelatin or carmine, both sourced from animals.
- Is honey considered an animal product?
- Yes, honey is produced by bees, so it is an animal product.
- Are certain vitamins made with animal ingredients?
- Many vitamins contain gelatin capsules or are derived from animal sources like fish oil.
- Can clothing have hidden animal products?
- Yes, items like leather, wool, and silk all come from animals.
- Is beeswax used in everyday products?
- Definitely, beeswax is commonly found in lip balms, candles, and creams.
- Do some jams and jellies contain animal products?
- Yes, some use gelatin as a gelling agent, which is animal-derived.
- Are some wines and beers processed with animal products?
- Some alcoholic beverages use isinglass, a fish-derived fining agent, in their production.
- Can soaps include animal ingredients?
- Many soaps contain tallow, a fat rendered from animal tissue.
- Is casein found in non-dairy products?
- Yes, casein is a milk protein often used in processed foods and some adhesives.