By

CBS News Staff /

CBS News/ April 30, 2012, 10:56 AM

Gross grub: 18 ingredients hiding in your food

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News about gross-out ingredients like pink slime and crushed up cochineal bugs (more about both later) has gotten lots of people thinking: What other surprises lurk in the food we eat? Our friends at Health.com put that question to food safety as well as food manufacturing experts, and it turns out all kinds of things go into refined and processed foods that you wouldn't willingly put in your mouth.

That's not to say it isn't safe to eat. The Food and Drug Administration and other agencies spend lots of time and energy to make sure you're not eating stuff that will kill you. But the idea that something seems "just plain wrong" often isn't part of the calculation.

From Health.com, here's a list of food ingredients that rate high in the yuck factor. Read at your own risk!

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gerryrigger says:
About castoreum: so at some point in history, somebody actually sniffed and licked a beaver'sass and discovered it smelled and tasted good. LOL
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blitz120 says:
CBS apparently doesn't keep up with the news; salt has (once again) been found not to be a health issue for the vast majority of people.
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daisy031 says:
Some people, like me, are allergic to shellac. It can be sprayed on apples and is also used to coat capsules. If you are allergic it can cause fierce itching, scabbing and even welts. It is very difficult to discover if the apple you ate was sprayed or if you have ingested it in candy or capsules or something else. Fruit and vegetables should be required to provide labels with this information! Beware.
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