While some of these are benign. Some are just down right disturbing. The following are just a few reasons to steer clear of processed foods. There are far more than these, but this is a start.



1. Gelatin - A protein from animal skins.

2. Castoreum - castor anal sacs from female beavers. EEWWWW! You'll find it in items labeled natural flavors that are Raspberry or Vanilla but don't have either item actually in them. It will only be labeled "Natural Flavors", Yogurt anyone, LOL!

3. Mechanically Separated Meat - A process of forcing bones thru a strainer to extract anything they can. Tiny bone fragments and cartilage included. Mmmm Hot Dogs...

4. Cochineal Extract - AKA Carmine. A red dye derived from the shells of cochineal insects. They are shaken to death, dried, and added to water to create the dye.

5. Carbon Dioxide - Pumped into meat packages to keep the meat pink. They are starting to stop this in some places.

6. TBHQ - A preservative that has been shown to cause cancer in lab rats.

7. Shellac (AKA Confectioner's Glaze) - Derived from the sticky excretions of the Kerria lacca insect. It is used to shine apples and tomatoes, but is also used in jellybeans and candy corn among other things.

8. Propylene Glycol- A preservative that  is also an ingredient in anti-freeze, but probably won't kill you.

9. Saltwater Injections - Usually found in packaged chicken. It's used to enhance flavor and to increase the weight before sale. 

10. Cellulose - AKA wood pulp. Used as a filler in low fat foods. When they say it tastes like cardboard it probably does, lol. You can't digest it. It's found in shredded cheese to keep the stands separate and in ice cream.

11. Viruses - Added to packaged deli meat. It's used to kill listeria and is labeled as bacteriophage preparation. 

12. L-Cysteine - Duck feathers that are used to soften the dough of breads and baked goods. Yum...

13. Ammonia - This is a big one. Found in what is now being called pink slime. Used to sanitize the less desirable meat trimmings that are bacteria laden and would otherwise be deemed as scraps.

14. Pink Slime - The meat fat trimmings are melted and run thru a centrifuge to extract the last little bits of meat. Then they are sprayed with ammonia and added to packaged ground beef. Select grocers and restaurants are choosing not to use it after a recent media uproar.

15. Bisphenol-A -   AKA BPA. This is still found in the lining of canned goods and is especially problematic with acidic foods like tomatoes.

16. Antibiotics - Found in abundance in non- organic livestock. Due to the horrid, unnatural  living conditions
 that the animals are forced to live in, they have to pump them full of antibiotics just to keep them alive until slaughter.

17. Silicone Dioxide - Now this one probably won't hurt you. It's sand, like from the beach. It's in Pam, coffee creamer, and a lot of other things. 

18. Carrageenan - A seaweed extract used to thicken and keep things from separating. Found in milk, chicken, and a lot of other foods. It is a known carcinogen.