Foods that contain pork without your knowledge and how to identify its hidden derivatives
In our daily lives, we consume a wide variety of foods without being fully aware of all the ingredients that go into them. We have all heard about hidden sugar. That which appears camouflaged in unsuspected products such as soy sauce, sliced bread or even sausages. Sugar where nobody expected it. Well, something similar happens with pork. There are foods that, although they do not have the appearance or taste of meat, hide in their list of ingredients some pork derivative: fats, broths, gelatins, aromas or enhancers. And they are not few. Let's see then which are those products that, at first glance, do not seem to contain pork or its derivatives, but in reality they do. If you're avoiding pork for religious, ethical or health reasons, it's worth double-checking the label before taking it for granted.
Traditional pastries
Traditional pastries are usually made with flour, sugar, egg and butter. But the reality is that this is not always the case. In traditional recipes, such as the authentic Spanish mantecados cookies, the key is lard. And although modern pastries often use butter or vegetable margarines, it is still common to find croissants, puff pastries and empanadas made with pork fat to achieve a crunchy texture and a more intense flavor. The problem? It often does not even appear as "lard" on the label, but as "animal fat".
Sweets, gummies, desserts and dairy products with gelatine
Here the pig is completely incognito. Gelatine, omnipresent in sweets such as jelly beans, some sponge cakes and chewy candies, is usually derived from collagen extracted from pig skin and bones. The same goes for some dairy desserts (custards, creamy yogurts) and shiny cake or pie toppings. Alternatives? They exist (agar-agar, pectins), but they are not the norm. If the label simply says "gelatin" and does not clarify its origin, it is quite likely that it comes from pork.
Certain snacks, appetizers and fried foods
Barbecue flavored potato chips. Smoked flavored worms. Cheese-flavored salted sticks. What do they have in common? That in more cases than you can imagine, they use artificial flavorings derived from pork, animal fats for frying or even bacon powder extracts to give them that addictive kick that begs for another bite. If on the label you read "flavor", "flavoring" or "enhancer" and no origin is detailed, it is quite likely that it comes from pork.
Processed meat products
This sounds obvious: if I buy chorizo or Serrano ham, I know there is pork. But the curious thing is that "turkey", "chicken" or even "vegetable" cold cuts sometimes incorporate pork fats, gelatins or aromas to add juiciness and texture. In other words, although 80% of the product is turkey, the final touch that makes it attractive may be provided by a pork derivative. Once again, it is time to read labels with a magnifying glass: "animal proteins", "animal fats", "gelatine"...
Certain industrial sauces, broths and soups
Many industrial sauces contain flavor enhancers derived from pork extracts. These additives enhance the umami flavor of products and are used in broths, soups and prepared sauces. It is essential to check the labels of these products to identify the presence of ingredients such as "meat extract" or "pork stock".
Some nems and samosas with shrimps
Shrimp is usually more expensive than pork. For this reason, although not always, in many cases some Asian products such as nems/spring rolls or samosas labeled as "shrimp" do not contain only this ingredient. Their filling is usually completed with vegetables and, sometimes, minced pork. It is best to read the label or ask the seller to be sure.
You may also be interested in:
They look like healthy foods, but they are not. Find out if you have also fallen into these traps of the food industry.In the quest for a healthier diet, we often unwittingly fall into the marketing trap. The food industry is well aware of our inclination to consume foods that give us pleasure without compromising our health. That is why they devote great efforts to create products that promise to be the panacea for a healthy life, but that hide ingredients or processes that...
Don't ignore these signs: you could have SIBO and not know it.Do you feel bloated, fatigued or have frequent digestive discomfort? Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) affects a large portion of the population and often goes unnoticed. It is estimated that between 20% and 80% of people with gastrointestinal or autoimmune diseases may suffer from it. Failure to treat it can lead to serious complications such as malnutrition.
Cheese is healthier than you think. Find out why!For a long time, cheese was seen as a food to be avoided because of its high fat content. However, recent research has revealed that cheese can have a number of health benefits, provided it is consumed in moderation.
Comments
Patricia
