Ten everyday items containing secret meat products revealed

If you're not a meat eater, you'd probably never think twice about dropping a cube of sugar in your tea or enjoying a glass of wine.

But now it appears that ten everyday items surprisingly contain animal products, and even toothpaste is on the list.

Worse, according to UlraDex, some are made with stomach churning ingredients, including the anal glands of beavers and fish bladders. 

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Some brands use gelatine in non or reduced-fat yogurts as it helps add texture and thickness, according to a new list of 10 everyday items that secretly contain animal products

FAT FREE YOGURTS 

Some brands use gelatine in non or reduced-fat yogurts as it helps add texture and thickness that's lacking after the fat has been removed. 

According to PETA, the collagen-rich mixture comes from skin, tendons, ligaments and bones of pigs and cows which are boiled in water.

It is commonly used as a gelling agent in desserts, dips, yogurts, sweets and marshmallows 

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VANILLA ICE CREAM 

A sweet treat on a summer's day may contain one of the most gruesome sounding ingredients of all. 

Beaver anal glands or ‘castoureum’ is listed as an FDA-approved food additive in ice cream in the US.

Made from the castor sacs of male and female beavers it is listed as a 'natural flavouring' which could mean you don't know you're eating it - unless you're taking a shot of Swedish schnapps called BVR HJT, which is heavily flavoured with the animal's musk.

However, it's thought the practice has simply become too expensive to be as widespread around the world as it once was. 

Beaver anal glands or ‘castoureum’ is often used as a food additive in vanilla ice cream

TOOTHPASTE

You aren't even safe from accidentally consuming animal products while brushing your teeth.

Some toothpastes contain suet made from animal fat, or glycerol, a sweetener derived from animals. 

UltraDEX says its Low-Abrasion Toothpaste is free from animal products, and it's also registered with the Vegan Society.

Some toothpastes contain suet made from animal fat, or glycerol, a sweetener derived from animals

WORCESTER SAUCE

You probably wouldn't think twice before adding this condiment to cheese on toast, or using it to spice up a Bloody Mary. 

However, many popular brands - including Lea & Perrins - are not suitable for vegetarians, as one of the main ingredients is anchovies. 

Look online for recipes for homemade vegetarian Worcester sauce.

Many popular brands of Worcester Sauce - including Lea & Perrins - are not suitable for vegetarians, as one of the main ingredients is anchovies

WINE, BEER AND CIDER 

You might be shocked to learn that animal products may be used in the filtering process of your favourite alcoholic drink.  

Although it's uncommon in the UK, some alcohol drinks are made with fish bladders to remove residue such as grape skins. 

They are added prior to bottling as impurities will cling to them, making them easier to filter out. 

Fish bladder may have been used during the filtration process of your favourite tipple 

WHITE SUGAR 

Adding sugar to your tea might not be great for your waistline, but that's not the only note of caution. 

Refined sugar can be made using the remains of charred bones of cattle to remove traces of impurities.

The bones are used in the filtering process after the 'bone char' is made in countries including cattle from Afghanistan, Argentina, India, and Pakistan, according to Peta.

The Vegetarian Society says that most manufacturers in the UK do not use this process, however, Peta warns that the method is still used around the world.

Refined sugar often contains the remains of charred bones of cattle used in the filtering process

BAKED BEANS 

They count as one of your five-a-day and make a handy meal served on toast when you don't have time to cook. 

And luckily popular Heinz Baked Beans are suitable for vegetarians. 

But always remember to check the label as some varieties contain bacon or ham hock to add flavour.

Always remember to check the label when buying baked beans as some varieties contain bacon or ham hock to add flavour

CAKE MIX 

Make sure you check the box to see if lard is listed on the ingredients before you start baking. 

Some ready-made mixes contain beef or pork fat, so be sure the one you choose has a Suitable for Vegetarians label. 

If in doubt whipping up your own basic sponge mix is safer and most probably tastier.

Some ready-made cake mixes contain beef or pork fat

OLIVE TAPENADE

It can be a great vegetarian alternative to snack on instead of pâté 

But you should always be careful to check the label before tucking in, or consider whipping up your own.  

Sometimes anchovies can sneak into the recipes to add extra flavour, making tapenade unsuitable for vegetarians. 

Sometimes anchovies can sneak into tapenade recipes to add extra flavour

RED SWEETS 

Although this sounds like a myth, red or strawberry flavoured sweets are often dyed with a food colouring called carmine. 

The colouring, which is made from dead crushed up beetles, comes about when the insects are boiled with sodium carbonate or ammonia, which then produces the attractive, bright red dye.

Any other foods which are coloured with a natural red dye will more often than not contain this animal products. 

Red or strawberry flavoured sweets are often dyed with a food colouring called carmine, made from dead crushed up beetles

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