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Well there I was, happy that I finally found a store again that sells Corn Puffs. But when checking the ingredients list, I discovered that the formulation has been changed to include artifical preservatives. Yuck. Why do companies always have to go changing things that were good to start with? (The Vitasoy doesn't seem as good as it used to be either.)
Then I noticed the store also had its own brand of corn puffs, without preservatives. However, those have artificial butter flavor... which I don't like the taste of. I'm not sure if that is mainly due to the taste itself, or because of my uncertainty over whether it is vegan or not.
So I did a google search today trying to find out what artificial butter flavor is made from, but didn't find an answer. Only some inconclusive clues. People with milk allergies should avoid it - but is that because it is partially derived from milk, or just because the chemical structures cause the same allergic reaction? One page had an ingredients list that stated "natural and artificial butter flavor (from plant sources)" - hmmm. Does that mean it usually comes from non-animal-product sources or not?
If I know that an ingredient is usually made from animal sources, I generally avoid it. On the other hand, if it can generally be made from either vegetable or animal sources, I'll usually be willing to eat it, since there's a good chance at least that it is vegan.
I also came across a news report about several people in a popcorn plant having gotten a rare lung disease from breathing in particulates from artificial butter flavor. Oooohh... that further dampens my appetite for it.
So... guess I'll go for the preservative-laden junk food as opposed to the yucky flavored junk food? Or maybe I just won't eat them anymore? Dang. I'm so picky some times.
One of the weirder ingredients I've found out about is L-Cysteine, which is used in some bread products. All sources seem to say it is derived from human hair - which is obtained from women in third-world countries.
Then I noticed the store also had its own brand of corn puffs, without preservatives. However, those have artificial butter flavor... which I don't like the taste of. I'm not sure if that is mainly due to the taste itself, or because of my uncertainty over whether it is vegan or not.
So I did a google search today trying to find out what artificial butter flavor is made from, but didn't find an answer. Only some inconclusive clues. People with milk allergies should avoid it - but is that because it is partially derived from milk, or just because the chemical structures cause the same allergic reaction? One page had an ingredients list that stated "natural and artificial butter flavor (from plant sources)" - hmmm. Does that mean it usually comes from non-animal-product sources or not?
If I know that an ingredient is usually made from animal sources, I generally avoid it. On the other hand, if it can generally be made from either vegetable or animal sources, I'll usually be willing to eat it, since there's a good chance at least that it is vegan.
I also came across a news report about several people in a popcorn plant having gotten a rare lung disease from breathing in particulates from artificial butter flavor. Oooohh... that further dampens my appetite for it.
So... guess I'll go for the preservative-laden junk food as opposed to the yucky flavored junk food? Or maybe I just won't eat them anymore? Dang. I'm so picky some times.
One of the weirder ingredients I've found out about is L-Cysteine, which is used in some bread products. All sources seem to say it is derived from human hair - which is obtained from women in third-world countries.
[ restored comments ]
Date: 2018-12-27 07:00 am (UTC)From:2003-10-12 17:07
> One of the weirder ingredients I've found out about is L-Cysteine, which is used in some bread products. All sources seem to say it is derived from human hair - which is obtained from women in third-world countries.
I definitely hope that is some sort of urban legend, have that be true is deeply nasty and vile.
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darkoshi
2003-10-13 18:23
Doesn't seem to be. Although apparently there are sources other than human hair as well, and I don't know what percentages are used from the various sources. Here are a couple related sites:
muslim concerns http://www.albalagh.net/halal/col2.shtml
jewish concerns http://www.kashrut.com/articles/L_cysteine/
Ah, some religious people are as picky about what they eat as vegans are! Personally, if the hair just comes from barber shops and/or religious offerings given at temples, I don't really have a problem with it.
Here are a couple more:
human hair exporter http://www.rajimpex.com/aboutus.htm
l-cysteine from fermentation http://www.kyowa-usa.com/inthenews/inthenews_91301.htm