13 Disgusting Food Facts

Fast food has always been a bit dodgy in my estimation. Rules seem a bit lax; and, the food is usually cooked by sweaty-looking individuals who may have mopped their fevered brows with their hands and then forgotten to wash them. Oh, face it, I'm paranoid about anyone who prepares my food.

I have developed an incredible distrust of some of the ingredients that are used in prepared foods. Just because something tastes good does not mean it is good for me.

Now it would appear that all my so-called "over-reacting" and "conspiracy theorizing" has proven to be well warranted. I give you the disgusting, unvarnished truth behind prepared foods.

We’ve all heard the horror stories about fast food restaurants. These facts will definitely make you think twice about super-sizing; or, even entering a fast-food restaurant at all.

1. An average person’s yearly fast-food intake will contain 12 pubic hairs. - I don't know about you; but, even one pubic hair is WAY over my limit.

2. Most fast-food chains depend on their fries being crispy on the outside and soft on the inside to draw customers to their place. But how many people know how this is accomplished. The majority of fast-food restaurants dip their fries in sugar before frying them to achieve the crispy/soft interplay on the fries. It's the sugar that gives those fries that lovely golden colour we all love; but, can't achieve at home. Now you know why. So when you order fast-food fries, recognize that you are getting all the fat, all the starch; and, a side of sugar.

3. Do you know how many chemicals it takes to make those "natural" flavours they use in milkshakes, etc? The strawberry flavor contains 50 different chemicals. To make a natural strawberry flavour that would please the customer, fast-food corporations decided that it was alright to use chemicals such as ethyl acetate (used in solvents), phenythyl alcohol, rose, and solvent. Believe it or not - it's cheaper than using real strawberries; and, money (not customer health) is the bottom line.

4. Where's truth in advertising when you need it? Some grilled chicken sandwiches and salads on fast-food menus contain beef. An example of this would be McDonald's Chicken McNuggets. McNuggests contain several beef additives disguised with meaningless secret names like “extract” or “essence”. These secret names do nothing to reveal the true contents of what is being eaten; but, are used to deceive the customers into thinking the food is healthier than it is. Currently, offenders include Wendy’s Grilled Chicken Sandwich and KFC’s Grilled Chicken Sandwich.

5. Hamburgers are made in huge factories with the meat from many different animals combined into one batch. This increases the risk of contamination to many batches; and, prevents the outbreak (if one should occur) from being localized. This makes the point of origin of the contaminated meat very diffult to trace. When mixed with other hamburger into several batches, not only does the risk of contamination increase; but, the area it could contaminate expands as well. Contaminated meat has the potential to sicken hundreds, if not thousands, of people across the country.

6. Propylene Glycerol used in applications such as antifreeze, paint, and detergent is also used to keep the salad bar offerings crispy. This chemical is known for causing skin and eye irritation; and, comes with an official alert. Small embarrassing aside: If you are a user of Astroglide Sexual Lubricant you might want to check the list of ingredients (skin irritants and all that).

7. Unless you are a walking fanatic, you might want to skip the super-sized Coke, large fries and a Big Mac. It would require walking seven hours straight to burn it off.

Beverages & Sauces

You’ll be surprised when you read these facts about the ingredients used in your favorite beverages and sauces.

8. The highest-priced; and, possibly the most revolting coffee in the world comes from civet droppings. Apparently, those who have tried it have declared the taste to be sublime. I would be worrying about the cleanliness of the bean when it was ground. Kopi Luwak is the trade name of these specially-collected beans when ready for use. The civets love the berry and feast on the ripe, aromatic coffee bean fruit. They swallow the partially-eaten berry; and,excrete the pit or bean. The beans are recovered from the civet droppings, cleaned, dried, and prepared for sale. For some reason, the beans are only usable after they have passed through the digestive tract of a civet. The beans sell for $120 - $600 per pound and are primarily sold in the U.S. and Japan.

9. A study of over 900 bottles of bottled water including 100 store brands were tested by the National Resources Defense Council. Synthetic organic chemicals, bacteria, and arsenic was found in approximately one-third of the bottles sampled. So...what does one drink? A glass of good, old-fashioned tap water drawn from the public water supply may contain as many as 115,000 man-made chemicals.

10. Pink grapefruit juice drinks or any other processed food that requires a pink, red or purple hue may contain bugs. These bugs are deliberately added; and, have even received the dubious honour of being labelled as a "food colouring". It is listed by the consumer-deceiving name of chochineal extract, carmine, or carmines acid. The reddish "food colouring" is obtained by crushing an insect named Dactylopius Coccus Costa; and, using the powder in many processed food that require a red, pink or purple tint.

11. Worcestershire sauce is made from anchovies soaked in vinegar until they are totally dissolved. The anchovies are soaked whole; and, when the fish are totally liquefied they are used to give the world-renowned sauce its distinctive flavour.

12. The pH level of phosphoric acid found in cola is so acidic that is equivalent to the pH level of vinegar. Coca-Cola is most acidic beverage ever sold to the public. Amuse yourself - the next time you see a truck carrying a load of concentrated Coke,look for the "highly-corrosive materials" sign.

13. Water is reusable. So basically, an allotment of the water you’ve been drinking has already been drunk by someone else. Maybe even more than once. Delightful, isn't it?

Via ForensicScienceTechnician