I just finished eating a yoplait yogurt, and as I was walking to put my container in the trash, the word "gelatin" jumped off the packaging and hit me in the face like a ton of bricks. When did they start putting that in there? Apparently, many companies have always put gelatin in their yogurt. How did I miss that? And what the hell is "carmine"? Oh my, this is going from bad to worse. I'm guessing carmine is not the boy who sat next to me in Math class in grammar school. Nope, it's crushed insects. Wonderful.
Normally I eat Greek yogurt, and after doing some research it seems that most Greek yogurts do not contain gelatin, although I am not sure about this new ingredient, carmine. The ones I usually buy do not contain gelatin, that's for sure, and honestly, I never really thought about checking every label, because I never imagined gelatin would be used. When I think of gelatin, I think "Jell-O". Ignorant of me to say the least. I should know better. I have a daughter with severe food allergies (lamb, eggs, milk, soy, nuts, beans, legumes, seeds, fish). I check the ingredients EVERY SINGLE TIME I buy anything for her, even if I have bought it a thousand times before. Yet somehow, I made assumptions with my own food. A huge wake up call!
I don't know why I made an assumption about my own food, but what's done is done. I have now begun the hunt for a list of yogurts that do not contain gelatin (and also do not contain 20-30 grams of sugar either). I'm hoping to share that with you in the coming week.
In the meantime, let's talk about both gelatin and carmine, and what they are.
GELATIN:
"Gelatin is a protein obtained by boiling skin, tendons, ligaments,
and/or bones with water. It is usually obtained from cows or pigs.
Gelatin is used in shampoos, face masks, and other cosmetics; as a
thickener for fruit gelatins and puddings (such as Jell-O); in candies,
marshmallows, cakes, ice cream, and yogurts; on photographic film; and
in vitamins as a coating and as capsules, and it is sometimes used to
assist in “clearing” wines. Gelatin is not vegan. However, there is a
product called “agar agar” that is sometimes marketed as “gelatin,” but
it is vegan. It is derived from a type of seaweed." PEOPLE FOR THE ETHICAL TREATMENT OF ANIMALS
Could you be eating foods that contain gelatin without even realizing it? Here are some common foods that may contain gelatin:
- GUMMY BEARS
- MARSHMALLOWS
- FROSTED MINI WHEATS (Crazy one, right?)
- Some varieties of KELLOGGS POP TARTS (Another one I wouldn't think)
- Some flavors of PEPPERIDGE FARM GOLDFISH
- Some brands of CREAM CHEESE and SOUR CREAM
- Some flavors of TRIDENT GUM
CARMINE:
"Cochineal extract is extracted from the cochineal, specifically the
female, a species of insect that belongs to the order entomologists
refer to as the "true bugs." (Don't trust any account that calls this
bug a beetle — it's not).
Today, cochineals are harvested mainly in Peru and the Canary Islands
on plantations of prickly pear cacti, the bugs' preferred host. There,
the insects are sun-dried, crushed, and dunked in an acidic alcohol
solution to produce carminic acid, the pigment that eventually becomes
carmine or cochineal extract, depending on processing. About 70,000
insects are needed to produce a pound of dye.
Until 2009, cochineal was one of many dyes that fell under the umbrella
term "natural color" on ingredients lists. But because cochineal
provokes severe allergic reactions in some people, the Food and Drug
Administration requires carmine and cochineal extract to be explicitly identified in ingredients lists." Luke Yoquinto, MyHealthNewsDaily Contributor LIVE SCIENCE.com
One
January 5th, 2011 a new regulation the FDA passed became
effective, requiring companies to list carmine and cochineal on their
label. Other
names for carmine are Crimson Lake, Natural Red #4, C.I. 75470 or E120. -
See more at:
http://enfusia.com/_blog/Enfusia_Blog/post/Is_your_cosmetic_product_truly_Vegan/#sthash.aR1TPm7C.dpuf
With more and more people avoiding RED 40 dye due to health reasons, many companies are now replacing it with crushed cochineal bugs. On January 5, 2011 the FDA passed a new regulation requiring companies to list carmine and cochineal on their labels. The words Cochineal, Cochineal Extract, Carmine, Crimson Lake, Natural
Red 4, C.I. 75470, E120, and even some ‘natural colorings’ all refer to the dye made from these little creatures.
Well obviously there is a lot for me to think about when it comes to ensuring that what I am putting into my body is indeed vegetarian. While I will continue to eat yogurt, as I am not vegan, I need to be more diligent when reading labels. Still, these things may happen from time to time, simply out of ignorance. I cannot beat myself over it. Nor will this help anything. Instead, I can see it as a blessing and an eye opener.
Peace and Love!
One
January 5th, 2011 a new regulation the FDA passed became
effective, requiring companies to list carmine and cochineal on their
label. Other
names for carmine are Crimson Lake, Natural Red #4, C.I. 75470 or E120. -
See more at:
http://enfusia.com/_blog/Enfusia_Blog/post/Is_your_cosmetic_product_truly_Vegan/#sthash.aR1TPm7C.dpuf
One January 5th, 2011 a new regulation the FDA passed became
effective, requiring companies to list carmine and cochineal on their label. Other
names for carmine are Crimson Lake, Natural Red #4, C.I. 75470 or E120. So the
next time you see any of these names listed on your cosmetic product, beware of
the bugs! - See more at: http://enfusia.com/_blog/Enfusia_Blog/post/Is_your_cosmetic_product_truly_Vegan/#sthash.aR1TPm7C.dpuf
One January 5th, 2011 a new regulation the FDA passed became
effective, requiring companies to list carmine and cochineal on their label. Other
names for carmine are Crimson Lake, Natural Red #4, C.I. 75470 or E120. So the
next time you see any of these names listed on your cosmetic product, beware of
the bugs! - See more at: http://enfusia.com/_blog/Enfusia_Blog/post/Is_your_cosmetic_product_truly_Vegan/#sthash.aR1TPm7C.dpuf
