Hidden animal ingredients and by-products
When we chose to live kindly, we have to take a moment to address what we eat, use on our bodies, and wear. Foods, cosmetics, household cleaning products, and clothing can often have sneaky animal by-products used in them.
Here is a brief summary of some common hidden ingredients to look out for:
A
Albumin / Albumen - a coagulating agent derived from egg whites, used in foods.
Animal shortening, fats, and oils - animal fat used in food and cosmetics.
Alpha-Hydroxy Acids – may be derived from animals and used in exfoliants/anti-wrinkle products.
Ambergris – fixative derived from whale intestines used in perfumes or flavouring in foods and beverages.
Angora – hair from angora rabbit or goat.
B
Bee pollen – microscopic grains that are collected from legs off bees. It is used in shampoos, toothpastes, deodorants, and supplements.
Beeswax – Wax obtained from melting honeycomb with boiling water, straining it and cooling it. Commonly used in cosmetics and candles.
Benzoic Acid – preservative derived from vertebrates and used in mouthwash, deodorants, creams, aftershave lotions. Can be from pants.
Biotin – can be derived from every living cell, milk, and yeast and is used as a texturiser in cosmetics.
Boar bristles – taken from the hair of wild or captive boars (male pigs) and is used in hair brushes, makeup brushes, paint brushes, and toothbrushes.
Bonito – dried flakes of fish
C
Capryl Betaine, Caprylic Acid, Caprylic Triglyceride – liquid fatty acid from cow or goat’s milk. Can be made from plants
Carmine, cochineal, carminic acid - ground up insects
Casein, Caseinate, Sodium caseinate - protein found in animal milk
Cashmere – wool from cashmere goat
Castor, castoreum – creamy substance excreted by beavers and muskrats used in perfume or sweets.
Catgut – tough string made from intestines of sheep, horses, etc – used for surgical sutures, tennis racquets, musical instruments.
Cetyl Alcohol – wax found in spermaceti from sperm whales or dolphins. Alternatives can be derived from vegetables.
Chitosan – derived fom custacean shells and used as a lipid binder in cosmetics or diet products.
Civet – secretion from a gland near the genital organs of civet cats and used as a fixative in perfumes.
Collagen – fibrous protein in vertebrates
Cysteine, L-Form – amino acid from hair or feathers, used in cosmetics and bakery products.
Cystine – amino acid from urine and horsehair used as nutritional supplement and in emollients
D
Down – goose or duck insulating feathers
Duodenum – derived from digestive tract of cows and pigs and added to vitamin tablets/
E
Elastin – protein found in neck ligaments and aortas of cows, used similarly to collagen
Emu oil – used in cosmetics
Estrogen, Estradiol – hormones from pregnant mares, used in birth control bills, menopausal drugs, cosmetics
F
Fatty acids – mixture of liquid and solid acids used in cosmetics, food, and household products.
Fish liver oil, fish oil – derived from marine animals, used in vitamins, soaps
Fish scales – used in shimmery makeups
G
Gelatin - cartilage, bones, tendons, skins of animals, used in food, cosmetics, tablets
Glucose - animal tissue and fluids (can come from fruits)
Glycerin, Glycerides (mono, di, triglycerides) - Animal fats (can come from plants)
H
Hide glue – same as gelatin but impurer form used in shoes etc
Honey – food taken from bees – used in foods and cosmetics
Hyaluronic acid – protein found in umbilical cords and fluits around the joints and used in cosmetics.
Hydrolyzed Animal protein – used in cosmetics
I
Insulin – from pig pancreas, used by diabetics. Synthetics are available.
Isinglass - gelatin that comes from internal membranes of fish bladders and is used to filter wines and in other foods.
K
Keratin – protein from ground up horns, hooves, feathers, quills and hair of animals and used in hair products.
L
Lactic acid - bacteria found in blood, muscle tissue, milk, used in skin fresheners as a preservative. (can be derived from plants)
Lactose - animal milk
Lactylic stearate -
Lanolin, lanolin acids, wool fat, wool wax – product of oil glands of sheep, extracted from their wool, used by cosmetic industry, in chewing gum, and vitamin d3 products.
Lard – fat from hog abdomens, used in cosmetics, baked goods, packaged fries, refried beans, and other foods.
L-Cysteine hydrochloride – flour additive extracted from duck feathers, used in commercial cereals and baking mixes.
Leather, suede, calfskin, sheepskin, etc – skin of animals used for clothing, upholstery, shoes, accessories.
Lecithin - waxy substance from animal tissue, egg yolks (or plants), used in cosmetics and some medicines. (Can be derived from plants but usually specified)
Lipase – enzyme from stomach and tongue glands of calves, kids, and lambs, used in digestive aids. (There are plant-based alternatives
Lipids, lipoids – fat and fat-like substances found in animals and plants.
Lutein - marigolds or egg yolks
M
Methionine – amino acid found in proteins, usually egg and milk, and used as a texturiser or in potato chips.
N
Nucleic acids – found in the nucleus of all living sells, used in cosmetics, vitamins and supplements.
O
Oleic acid – obtained from animal fats and oils adn used in cosmetics and foods.
P
Pepsin - enzyme from pigs stomach, used in cheeses and vitamins
R
Rennent, rennin – enzyme from calves’ stomachs, used in cheese making, custards and dairy products.
S
Shellac – excretion of certain insects used in nail polish, hair spray, candy and jewellery.
Silk – shiny fibre made from silkworms to form their cocoons, used in clothing, bedding.
Stearic acid, Stearamide, Stearamine, Stearates, Stearic Hydrazide, Stearone, Stearoxytrimethylsilane, Stearoyl Lactylic Acid, Stearyl Betaine, Stearyl Imidazoline - fat from animals, used in cosmetics, foods, gum.
Suet - hard white fat around kidneys or loins of animals
T
Tallow - fat from sheep or cattle separated from membranous tissues used in cosmetics, candles, food.
U
Urea, uric acid – excreted from urine and other bodily fluids, used in cosmetics, baked goods.
W
Whey - watery liquid that separates from solids in cheese making, used in foods.
Wool – type of hair taken from sheep, used in clothing.
It’s important to note that many of these also have plant-based alternatives. A simple way to know if something is animal-friendly, is to look for a “vegan” symbol on the product label! There are also some helpful phone apps, such as Fussy Vegan and Vegan Pocket, that allow you to scan the barcode and it will let you know if it is vegan or not.
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