Beer with Fish, Chocolates with Beef Jelly…

After suspicions that Uncle Ben’s rice is GMO, Europe is shaken by scandal of animal ingredients in Mars chocolates. What do we really eat?

For suspicion that it has been genetically modified, Uncle Ben’s rice has undergone analysis in Switzerland and was briefly withdrawn from shelves in Croatia too. The results of the analysis have shown that Uncle Ben’s rice was not genetically modified, but was in contact with genetically modified soy and otherwise fully satisfied Croatian regulations. 

At the same time another food scandal broke out in Europe with ingredients of articles known as the “Mars case”.

Mars jettisoned rennet from its chocolate bars, a natural enzyme that is found in the stomach of calves. The company said it had used rennet to secure the availability of food, although many industrial experts believe that it was for cutting costs. The statement caused rage among consumers. In only seven days in Great Britain more than six thousand people contacted the local vegetarian society. Realising what they had done, Mars apologised to all vegetarians and removed rennet from its chocolate bars.

This case concerned many people who take care of their health (although not so many in Croatia) and many are now asking do we at all know what we are eating, drinking and using.

What are we eating, drinking and using? 

It is good to know what we eat, although Croatians start thinking about nutrition only when they fall ill, as recent research has shown.

Many food products contain jelly, real parmesan, anchovies and numerous other items that the buyer does not know is in a product and is not aware of them because they have not been put on the declaration.

Here is what some products contain:

The black colour of Guiness beer is known as isinglass and has been made from a jelly made from fish gills. Many American types of beer use plastic particles to improve foam.

Dip with real parmesan 

The Cirio pasta Genovese pasta dip contains real parmesan and since parmesan is a cheese (therefore of animal origin) the dip does not just contain basil and garlic, as many believe.

In their cereals “Frosted Wheats”, Kellogs used beef jelly to “stick” the sugar to the cereal. The jelly is derived from animal muscle tissue collagen, that is, tendons and ligaments that would otherwise be butcher waste.

Some Muller’s yoghurts, some toothpastes and mouthwashes contain glycerine, that is derived from animal fat. But, there are some vegetarian products that do not contain anything of animal origin. If you want to be sure that the product you purchase does not contain animal ingredients, buy it in a store for vegetarians.

The St. Ivel dairy producer puts fish oil in its milk that is rich with Omega 3 fatty acids, but does not filter it. Of course, in such milk the content of fat is higher than the stated dairy fat. The difference is in the said oil that has not been declared because it is not dairy fat.

Deadly deceit 

It is desirable to know what a product contains and it is up to the manufacturer to protect its customers. The Mars case represents a violation of the right to chose of vegetarians because hiding the truth is equal to lying.

But, it is much more important that the covering up of truth can be deadly. What would happen is someone were to die from an allergy because they drank milk that contains unrefined fish oil?