L-cysteine

[Curiousabout]

I recently read a report on the subject of using this as a dough conditioner in the commercial bakery industry. The article says that this additive is produced by dissolving feathers in an acid solution and then separating it. Most of this product is imported from China (about 90%) The article goes on to say that the Chinese use human hair to produce this product. Has anyone ever heard of this, it sounds kind of grouse? This product is said to also be made synthetically, but is more expensive to produce. Jewish Religion will only allow baked products using none of this product or synthetically made product in kosher baked goods. You people work with chemicals all the time. Please give me your thoughts. and thank you.

[Fuzzwood]

Molecules are molecules. Forgive me if this sounds in any way offensive, but some water molecules in your body for example might or might not have been part of Napoleon Bonaparte's pee and/or pigs. L-cysteine is nothing more and nothing less than a simple amino acid.

 

Besides, you work with chemicals too when you cook, heck even oxygen is a chemical.

Edited August 11, 2014 by Fuzzwood

[Curiousabout]

I no what you are saying, Nutrients in pig dong feeds organic veggies we love to eat. jello is animal cartilage. It just seems so wierd that we consciously use human parts (for lack of a better word). Soilent green lol. thanks for your response. I think that we have consumed every part of most animals and plants on earth now it seems we are feeding on ourselves.

[Endy0816]

Yeah, it can come from hair and duck feathers. Only one of a number of similarly "grouse" ingredients out there though.

 

Mostly have to consider how much processing is involved. Personally I don't worry about it. Even something straight from the field is going to end up with some level of nastiness. You look too closely at what you eat and you are going to end up not eating.

[Enthalpy]

Human hairs have more value than feathers. They serve to make wigs, lock prolongations... Using them instead of feathers would be a bit surprising.

Molecules are molecules.

 

For a chemist yes, but religion is not science. Many faithful people believe that life is more than a bunch of molecules. And even without religion, is everyone easy with the idea that astronauts drink recycled urine?

[Fuzzwood]

Well don't get me started of what I think of religion. Also, yes, in your last case. It's just water with some waste products. Remove the waste products and it's drinkable water again.

Edited August 11, 2014 by Fuzzwood

[Endy0816]

Ironically, a decent quantity of human hair comes from religious donations. Not all of the same quality though which is why it is used in different end products.

 

Evolution is just against you creating any kind of loop a pathogen could take advantage of. In many cases our instincts don't apply like they used to.