Veggies - Watch out, hidden meat about

Have you ever bought something and thought it was meat-free and then found out there was something of an animal nature in there.  I'm sorry to say I am not a veggie but I do have a certain aversion to finding meat in my sweets, cakes or desserts.  My partner is a pescatarian (A veggie who eats fish) so we're still not quite there but between the two of us we have become more and more aware of things with hidden 'meat' content.  My partner has a passion for crisps and loved Snackajacks until it came to light what was in them.

Anyway, I have listed below foods that a lot of people may not know contain a hidden 'meat' content.  Most of them contain the famous Gelatin.  You may want to sit down for this, if you don't know.  Gelatin is derived from collagen (Yes, the stuff that sad people put in their faces to make themselves look younger) found in bones, cartilage, connective tissue and the skin of animals, traditionally cows or pigs.  Most commercially produced Gelatin is produced from pig's skin.  If you have ever roasted a chicken or ham, you made your own gelatin. The juices in the bottom of the pan contain gelatin rendered from the collagen, and if you put the roasting pan in the refrigerator, you'll find some of the juice setting into a gel.  This is the reason that it is used in some of the products in my list.

You will also notice some with animal rennet - there are several ways of obtaining rennet but overall it's mostly obtained from the stomachs of live or dead calves.

I have mentioned the above two products because there are veggie-friendly alternatives that companies can use instead but don't.  Maybe it's time they did.  It could only be a win win situation for them because they would sell many more products.  I know that I love some of the products listed below but I won't eat them because the thought of what is in them.

The following foods have animal products in them:

• Marshmallows - Gelatin  
• Mint Imperials - Gelatin
• Haribo sweets - Some packets for veggie friendly choose 'Funny-Mix'
• Rice Crispy Cereal Bars - Gelatin in the marshmallows used to produce the coating
• Snackajacks - Animal Rennet
• Ben and Jerry's Rocky Road Icecream - marshmallows with Gelatin again
• Most Tirimasu's - check the labels as some contain Gelatin
• Most Jelly - Gelatin 
• Most beer cannot be produced without the technique of Fining - This substance clarifies the beer and is usually made from the swim bladder of a sturgeon fish (also known as isinglass)

A useful link for recipes and product information:

www.veggies.co.uk

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If you have anything to add to my list of foods with hidden 'meat' content, please contact me and let me know.

CHECK OUT MY NEW FOODS TO AVOID PAGE - AN ONGOING SHOCKER INTO WHO MAKES WHAT ETC.