10 Everyday Items That Contain Animal Products

Bread: As vegans, we know to look and make sure that there are no eggs, milk, or butter in the bread that we purchase.

But, are you looking for L-cysteine? It is an amino acid made from duck feathers, chicken feathers, cow horns, pig hair, and even human hair (from salons in China usually), the product gets cooked into the bread to help speed up raising/cooking time and extend shelf life.

Fabric Softener: Be on the lookout for fabric softeners that contain dehydrogenated tallow dimethyl ammonium chloride.

It is derived from cattle, sheep, and/or horse fat boiled down and mixed with ammonium. This fat is what coats your bath towels and clothes giving them that ‘super soft’ feel.

Plastic Bags: Hopefully by now everyone has jumped on the reusable bag bandwagon, and if not, get with the times!!

These plastic bags just keep getting worse. Also made from cows, pigs, sheep, or horses, their fat is used to help give the plastic bags that slick feel.

Toothpaste: You know that thick texture that makes up your toothpaste? That is most likely glycerin, which is derived from animal fat. It is less expensive than using a plant-based form, but 1000X more disgusting.

Shampoo & Conditioner: Vitamin B, amino acids, panthenol, and even every so popular keratin are derived from animals such cows, pigs, and horses (their fat, horns, hooves, and hair), and even euthanized household pets.

Crayons: You know that familiar crayon smell? Well, that is processed beef fat (tallow) and unfortunately, it is very difficult to find completely vegan crayons.

There are some made with beeswax, and vegan brands are often made from plastic, although rumor has it there is a new soy-based crayon out there by Prang.

Refined Sugar: Includes white sugar, brown sugar, and confectioners sugar is filtered and bleached through bone char from cattle.

Yes, even the brown sugar is bleached first through the animal bones and then has molasses added to it.

Nail Polish: Ever wonder what gives nail polish that nice shiny look? Known as ‘pearl essence’ in the beauty industry, don’t be fooled by the fancy name, it’s groundfish bones!

Perfume: What’s giving off a bit of a musky vanilla scent would be the castoreum in your perfume.

Which is derived from a beaver's castor sac, located between the tail and the pelvis You will literally smell like a beaver's rear end.

Computers: Believe it or not, computers contain stearic acid, which is taken from animal fat, in their plastic and rubber components in order to help stabilize them against heat.

Although, the good news for all Mac users, animal rights activists, and Apple owner Steve Jobs was fruitarian, so Apple tries to make a point to be as plant-based as possible.

So there you have it, a scary list of 10 things you may or may not have known that contain animal products!

The sad thing is, there are SO many more products that contain a wide variety of animal products, this post could go on and on and on.

Be on the safe side whenever you are shopping, pick up items that are certified vegan and not tested on animals. Do your research before supporting animal cruelty, you vote with your dollar.

You might be spending a little bit extra on something that has been certified vegan and cruelty-free, but you are contributing to a kinder planet by doing so.

People should be repulsed at the horrible use of these animal products in their everyday items, together we can make veganism the norm!