Some red food dyes, like cochineal extract or carmine, are derived from crushed female cochineal insects, commonly used in candies, juices, and other processed foods.
Isinglass, a substance obtained from fish bladders, is sometimes used in the beer-making process to clarify the liquid.
Castoreum, a secretion from the anal glands of beavers, is used as a natural flavoring in certain foods and beverages.
L-cysteine, an amino acid used as a dough conditioner in some bread products, is often derived from human hair or poultry feathers.
The FDA allows a certain level of rodent hair, insect fragments, and other foreign matter in food products, which may be unsettling for some consumers.
Adulteration and food fraud are prevalent, with some products being mislabeled or replaced with cheaper alternatives to deceive consumers.
In some countries, including the United States, chlorine washing is used to sanitize chicken carcasses, a practice banned in the European Union due to concerns about food safety.
Approximately one-third of the world's food supply is wasted each year, leading to significant environmental and humanitarian consequences.