9 Pork By-Products That Will Surprise You
From gelatin in sweets to isinglass in wine, pork by-products are in more products than you realize, from cosmetics to pet food and even crayons!
When enjoying a rasher of crispy bacon, we seldom stop to think about the many by-products created by the pork industry. However, a vast range of the products we use daily utilize pork by-products. So, what surprising things are made with pork by-products?
Pork by-products are more common in everyday items than you might think. Beyond food, things made with pork by-products include surprising items like cosmetics, shampoo, art supplies, and even fertilizers. From bones to skin and hair, the pork industry ensures these by-products are repurposed into a wide range of products. Read on for nine unexpected things made with pork by-products that will surprise you!
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1. Gelatin Contains Pork By-Products
The first item containing pork by-products on this list is perhaps the most common. Gelatin is a widely used ingredient in sweets, wine, and jellies, but did you know it is made from pork by-products? Gelatin producers most commonly make it from the skins, trotters, and bones of pigs, all of which are a by-product of the pork industry.
These by-products are made into gelatin because they are remarkably high in raw collagen, giving that chewy, bouncy texture. The widespread use of gelatin means there are likely to be pork by-products in most chewy sweets you eat, such as marshmallows and gummy bears.
2. Wine And Beer May Contain Pork By Products!
It is not just food that contains surprising hidden pork by-products- drinks do too! Another surprising thing that contains pork by-products is wine and beer!
The pork by-product in alcohol is in the form of isinglass: a mixture containing collagen that is sometimes added to white wines during the clarifying process, resulting in a notably clear wine.
Manufacturers typically make isinglass of pig collagen from by-products such as the pig’s feet, skin, and bones. Isinglass is also sometimes added to beers to clarify them and give them a crisp finish.
3. There May Be Pork By-Products In Your Cosmetics
While you may not be too surprised by the inclusion of pork by-products in food – or drink – things, you may be more surprised to learn that you may be wearing pig by-products on your face!
Some cosmetics, such as lipstick and other makeup products, contain an ingredient called squalene. Squalene is used to improve the texture and consistency of makeup and is valued for its moisturizing effect in lip products – and it is derived from pig liver oil!
Many moisturizers, foundations, concealers, and mascaras also contain stearic acid, commonly made from pig fat. Pig fat’s smooth, fatty consistency means that cosmetic companies commonly use it for its moisturizing abilities.
Finally, some luxurious, creamy lotions contain gelatin. As discussed earlier, gelatin is most commonly made from collagen derived from pig bones, trotters, and skin.
4. Some Shampoos Contain Pork By-Products
Talking of beauty products, have you ever wondered where the ‘added keratin’ in your shampoo comes from? This product, which is wonderful for hair growth, often originates in pig by-products.
Some shampoos use keratin derived from pig hair, skin, and hooves, which are by-products of the pork industry. Pig hair and skin are exceptionally high in keratin, which promotes luscious hair growth in us.
Stearic acid, derived from pig’s stomach fat, is also commonly used in other hair products. The moisturizing fattiness of this fat makes it perfect for products like hair gels and masks.
5. Some Vitamin Capsules Use Pork By-Products
Pork by-products are often used to produce vitamins, too – but not in the way you would think! Vitamin manufacturers commonly make the dissolving layer around some soft vitamins (such as a liver oil pill) from gelatin, which they most commonly make from pork by-products like trotters.
Gelatin is non-toxic, practically tasteless, and dissolves in water over time, which makes it the perfect material for capsules and pill coatings.
6. Some Pet Foods Contain Pork By-Products
It is not just human products that contain pork by-products – other animals are utilizing them too!
A common use of pork by-products such as bones, blood, and off-cuts is in pet food. Pig tissue is rich in proteins, fats, and nutrients, making it a perfect addition to a nourishing cat or dog food.
7. Many Fertilizers Use Pork Bone Meal
Farming and gardening sectors also utilize pork by-products, and pork by-products may be in your home fertilizer. Bone meal, made from processed pig’s bones, is a prominent ingredient in some fertilizers, particularly slow-release fertilizers.
Indeed, porcine bone meal is considered one of the best organic sources of phosphorus (necessary for photosynthesis), calcium, and numerous other minerals that promote plant growth. Bone meal fertilizer is particularly good for flowering plants.
At least you know your garden is eating well, and hopefully, you’ll soon have the roses to prove it!
8. Paint Brushes May Contain Pig’s Hair
Pork by-products are used in the art world too! While cheaper brushes are often nylon, good quality brushes, particularly those intended for oil and acrylic paints, often use pig’s hair for bristles.
Pig’s hair paintbrushes are particularly sought after because they have naturally split ends, allowing them to hold more paint than synthetic fibers and creating a decisive, even brushstroke.
The stiffness of pig’s hair paintbrush bristles also allows artists greater control and precision, which is another reason why they are so popular.
9. Crayons May Contain Pork By-Products
Another art material that uses pork by-products is crayons! Some crayon manufacturers add stearic acid, derived from pig’s stomach fat, to their products. Stearic acid is fatty and works well as a binding agent in crayons, creating a smoother final product.
Final Thoughts
Pork by-products include the bones, hooves, skin, hair, and some areas of the fat. These by-products are incredibly useful in other industries, often for their high concentration of raw collagen. Pork by-products are found in food products (such as gelatin), pet food, fertilizer, art products, including crayons and paintbrushes, and cosmetics like lipstick and shampoo!
