You may be eating a dead person’s hair in your commercially-baked bread. Watch out for L-cysteine if you’re queasy.
It’s name is inconspicuous enough, not something that would make the average consumer squirm as they read the ingredients label on a loaf of bread. The problem isn’t what L-cysteine does – it’s a non-essential amino acid used by many commercial bakers to condition the dough – but where it comes from: human hair. According to NaturalNews.com, much of it is from China, a country with a less than glowing track record for food contaminants.
According to the author, synthetic L-cysteine is sometimes used, while natural sources include human hair, chicken and duck feathers, cow horns and petroleum byproducts. “The hair is dissolved in acid and L-cysteine is isolated through a chemical process, then packaged and shipped off to commercial bread producers.”
Gag factor aside from the thought of eating dissolved hair, there are religious concerns for Jews and Muslims.
“Muslims are forbidden from eating anything derived from a human body, and many rabbis forbid hair consumption for similar reasons. Even rabbis who permit the consumption of hair would forbid it if it came from corpses — and since much L-cysteine comes from China, where sourcing and manufacturing practices are notoriously questionable, this is a real concern.”
“In one case, a rabbi forbade the consumption of L-cysteine because the hair had been harvested during a ritual at a temple in India.”
From the perspective of the burgeoning eco-sexual community, there are many delightful uses for hair, from the pleasure of caressing your lover’s scalp to reap the benefits of all that tingling sensation to donating locks to make a wig for someone who has lost their own. Despite our vivid imaginations, however, consuming hair that’s been harvested from the floor of remote corners around the globe is not our idea of recycling.
:: photo credit NaturalNews.com
Read More Food News:
Israel’s Frozen Fish Processed In China Pumped with Water and Chemicals
Aphrodisiacs of the Middle East
Tinamarie is a regular contributor to Greenprophet.com. Follow her @ModernLoveMuse. She blogs at www.tinamariebernard.com.
Author: Tinamarie Bernard
Tinamarie combines her interests in two of her favorite topics – relationships and the environment – for Greenprophet.com. As our eco-sexpert, she explores ways to make our personal lives more sustainable, whether it’s between a couple, the sheets or our ears. While eco-sexuality is a new term and still unfamiliar to many, being conscious about what we use in moments of intimacy is connected to better stewardship of the planet. The idea that green is sexy and sex can be green is one she is thoroughly enjoying discovering. This married mom of two also believes we owe it to our children to teach them to love themselves, each other, and the environment for futures to come. Intimacy isn’t something we are born knowing. Neither is good stewardship of the earth. In her spare time, she muses about sacred sexuality, conscious love, intimacy, feminism and parenting as the top-rated Modern Love column for Examiner.com and several other media outlets. She composes poetry (mostly in her heart), mediates (when time allows), rides horses in the Galilee, and searches for delicious parve dessert recipes. She considers chocolate a righteous sin, and won’t give up a single pair of red shoes. You can find...
Jackie – please don’t swear off bread. Just read the label on the back. If l-cystein is used as a dough conditioner, it will be listed on the ingredients. Hope that helps.
I was horrified to find out about L.cystein. I immediately stopped eating any bread of any
kind. Actually I stopped eating anything that might remotely contain L-cystein. I would appreciate a response as to what bread would be safe to eat otherwise I am willing to never have bread again. I don’t know how to bake my own bread. Is organic bread or food safe? Please advise. My whole life has changed since I found out about disgusting L-cystein. Thank you, Jackie
Totally agree on the ick-factor. I wonder how many ‘organic’ or ‘natural’ commercial baked goods have this in it…ick again.
Ew. According to a ‘credible’ wikipedia article, most L-cysteine in food is made from duck feathers these days. The more I know what could potentially be in shop bought foods, the more I’m thankful I eat organic!