Introduction
We use some animal products in our daily lives. Some are obvious items like eggs, milk
and milk products, etc.
Some are not so obvious like ivory or sponges.
Products we get from animals are divided into two groups.
Food products
Non-food products
Food products from animals
We get a variety of foods from animals. One may think that we get all the nutrients form plants, but it is not true. Because, we all need vitamin B12,which is essential for the proper functioning of the brain and the nervous system. This vitamin is naturally formed in animals, and the best source of vitamin B12 is milk and eggs. So, even vegetarians, must consume milk and milk products to eat a balanced meal.
Let us look at the food products that we get from animals and the animals we get them from.
Dairy - Cow, goat, buffalo, sheep, camel
Milk, curd, cheese, ghee, butter, gelato, ice cream, whey, etc. are
called dairy products.
Milk is consumed in all parts of the world.
Meat - Goat, sheep, pig, fish, seafood
Meat is the flesh of an animal. As most of the world population is non-vegetarian, meat
from various sources is consumed.
In coastal areas, seafood containing fish, crabs,
lobsters etc., are more commonly consumed.
In other areas it is meat from the animals. Japanese even consume whale and dolphin meat
as food.
Eggs - Hen, quail, duck, goose, fish, etc.
People eat eggs in all parts of the world. Pheasants, gull and emu eggs are also eaten. Ostrich eggs are a super luxury food and people eat them rarely.
Honey - Honey Bees
Honey is a natural sweetener and we can be eat it raw. It also has medicinal properties, so people used it in remedies for cough, burns, etc. People get honey both from wild grown honey combs and in bee farms.
Gelatin - derived from the meat of animals
Gelatin is a gelling agent and we use it to make jellies, marshmallows, etc. It thicken and gives shape to food items.
Shellac - Lac bug
It is a resin secreted by the lac bug. It is found in the forests of India and Thailand. It is used to give colour and glaze to some food items.
Carmine - Cochineal Insects
It is red food coloring. It is a pigment produced from cochineal insects.
Lard - Pig
Pigs produce a lot of fat which covers their body. People separate it from the meat and use it for cooking, baking like butter.