The Hare Krsnas - Spiritual Practice - Krsna Prasadam - Ingredients

"O Lord! This material body is a lump of ignorance, and the senses are a network of paths leading to death. Somehow or other we have fallen into the ocean of material sense enjoyment, and of all the senses the tongue is the most voracious and uncontrollable. It is very difficult to conquer the tongue in this world, but You, dear Krsna, are very kind to us. You have sent this nice prasada to help us conquer the tongue; therefore let us take this prasada to our full satisfaction and glorify Your Lordships Sri Sri Radha and Krsna and in love call for the help of Lord Caitanya and Prabhu Nityananda." There are six kinds of rasas (tastes), and if one is agitated by any one of them, he becomes controlled by the urges of the tongue. Some persons are attracted to the eating of meat, fish, crabs, eggs and other things produced by semina and blood and eaten in the form of dead bodies. Others are attracted by eating vegetables, creepers, spinach or milk products, but all for the satisfaction of the tongue's demands. Such eating for sense gratification--including the use of extra quantities of spices like chili and tamarind--is to be given up by Krsna conscious persons. The use of pan, haritaki, betel nuts, various spices used in pan-making, tobacco, LSD, marijuana, opium, liquor, coffee and tea is indulged in to fulfill illicit demands. If we can practice accepting only remnants of food offered to Krsna, it is possible to get free from maya's victimization. Vegetables, grains, fruits, milk products and water are proper foods to offer to the Lord, as Lord Krsna Himself prescribes. However, if one accepts prasada only because of its palatable taste and thus eats too much, he also falls prey to trying to satisfy the demands of the tongue."
Nectar of Instruction, Chapter 1

Following is but a partial list of the un-bonafide ingredients typically found in today's processed foods. The food additives list was excerpted from "A Consumer’s Dictionary of Food Additives" by Ruth Winter, M.S. It is disturbing to note that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not require food manufacturers to clearly label packages -- they are not even required to disclose that animal products are contained in foods that might appear to be vegetarian. Hidden away beneath the laboratory names of food additives, chemicals, emulsifiers, etc., are beef, horse, and even human by-products. The more you read on this subject, the more you will scrutinize the exact nature of foodstuffs you purchase for preparation and offering to Lord Krsna!
Please note that this list does not include egg, onion or garlic ingredients, all of which are considered un-bonafide, and are not offerable to Sri Krsna.

UN-BONAFIDE FOOD ADDITIVES
ADDITIVE Albumin (Albumen) and Lactalbumin Ambergris (Spermaceti) Blood Calcium Stearate (Stearic Acid) Calcium Stearoyl Lactylate Cholic Acid Choline Bitartrate Civet, Absolute Cysteine. L Cystine Datem Emulsifiers Enzymes Fatty Acids Gelatin Glycerol Monostearate Glycine Lard Lipids Lysine, L and DL Magnesium Stearate Mono and Di-glycerides Myristic Acid Natural Flavorings Oleic Acid Oxysterins Pepsin Polyglycerol Esters Polysorbates (Tween) Rennet (Rennin) Serum Albumin Shortenings Sorbitan Monostearate Stearyl Lactate Uric Acid (Urea) Vitamin D3 Waxes	SOURCE Egg whites, blood Sperm Whale or Dolphins Slaughtered animals Slaughtered animals Slaughtered animals Animal bile Animal tissue Cats Human and horse hair Urine, horse hair Animal or vegetable Animal or vegetable Animal or vegetable Animal or vegetable Animal or fruit Animal or vegetable Animal or vegetable Pork fat and oils Animal or vegetable Casein, fibrin, blood Tallow, vegetable, Stearic Acid Animal or vegetable Animal or vegetable Many are animal Animal or vegetable fats, oils Tallow, vegetable, Stearic Acid Hog enzyme Animal or vegetable fats, oils Stearic Acid Rennet Animal or vegetable Blood plasma, cows Stearic acid Animal or vegetable Human Urine Animal or synthetic Animal, insect, petroleum, vegetable	TYPICAL USES Emulsifier Flavoring for food & beverages, margarine Cheese making, medicines Emulsifier and coloring agent Dough conditioner in bakery products; whipping agent Emulsifier B-complex vitamins Raspberry, butter, caramel, grape and rum flavorings for beverages, ice cream, ices, candy, baked goods, chewing gum Bakery products, pizza and pie dough Nutritional supplement Dough conditioner Binders, thickeners, preservative Wide use Emulsifiers, binders; yeast Sour cream, yoghurt, pudding Margarine, shortening, noodles Flavor enhancer Food products, packaging Shortening, flavoring, thickener Wheat-based foods, breads cereals Anti-caking agent Emulsifier, softener, preservative Flavor enhancer Wide use Butter, cheese, spice Prevents oil from clouding Cheese, vitamins Emulsifier Emulsifiers, “non-dairy” Cheese and dairy Moisturizing ingredient Baked goods Emulsifier, defoamer, flavor Bakery products, pancake mix Yeast foods, pretzels, wine Milk and milk products Wax fruits and vegetables; candy coating

"Once Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, "You must at least have enough sense to test to find out who is a spiritual master and who is not." For instance, if we want to purchase something, we must at least have some idea of what that thing is, otherwise we will be cheated. If we want to purchase a mango from the market, we must at least know what type of food a mango is and what it looks like. Similarly, we must have some preliminary knowledge of the qualifications for a bona fide spiritual master."
Elevation to Krsna Consciousness, Chapter 6

Following is a limited list of some of the brand name products availale on supermarket shelves which seem, at first glance, to be vegetarian. On closer inspection, however, we find that a variety of animal products are included in these foods as flavoring agents, emulsifiers, additives, etc. As above, we have not included products containing eggs, onion or garlic in the following list. Eggs are one of the most often included items on the un-bonafide foods list that you'll find in processed foods. Fortunately, in most cases, egg substances are clearly labeled 'egg'.

UN-BONAFIDE BRAND NAME PRODUCTS
MANUFACTURER BAKING GOODS, CONDIMENTS Fleming Co. Jel-Sert Kraft Foods Lea & Perrins All Brands McCormick McCormick BEVERAGES Ocean Spray Juice Ocean Spray Juice BREADS Cole Bread Dominick’s Earthgrains Earthgrains Jiffy Mix Pillsbury CAKES, COOKIES & CRACKERS Interstate Brands Co. Interstate Brands Co. Interstate Brands Co. Interstate Brands Co. Interstate Brands Co. Interstate Brands Co. Nabisco Food Group Nabisco Food Group Nabisco Food Group Nabisco Food Group Pepperidge Farm Pepperidge Farm Sara Lee Sara Lee Sara Lee Sara Lee Sara Lee Sara Lee Schulze & Burch CANDY, CHEWING GUM AND CHIPS Callard & Bowser Ferrara Pan Frito Lay Frito Lay Frito Lay Frito Lay Frito Lay Frito Lay Frito Lay Frito Lay Frito Lay Frito Lay Frito Lay Frito Lay Frito Lay Frito Lay Hershey's Hershey's Hershey's Hershey's Jays Just Born M&M/ Mars M&M/ Mars M&M/ Mars M&M/ Mars M&M/ Mars M&M/ Mars M&M/ Mars M&M/ Mars Nabisco Nabisco Nabisco Nestle Nestle Nestle Sargento Sargento Sargento Sargento The Stork Company The Stork Company The Stork Company Tootsie Roll Tootsie Roll Van Melle Vitner Company Vitner Company Vitner Company Vitner Company Wabash Warner Lambert Wrigley Co. CEREALS Kellogg Co. Kellogg Co. Kellogg Co. Malt-O-Meal Co. Malt-O-Meal Co. Malt-O-Meal Co. Big Bowl Oatmeal Big Bowl Oatmeal Big Bowl Oatmeal Sovex Foods (Aldi’s) DAIRY PRODUCTS Best Foods Best Foods Best Foods Borden Foods Crystal Farms Crystal Farms Crystal Farms Dean Foods Driggs Farms Driggs Farms Driggs Farms Edy’s Edy’s Edy’s Kraft Foods Kraft Foods Kraft Foods Kraft Foods Kraft Foods Kroger Co. Kroger Co. Old Homes Foods Old Homes Foods Richelieu Foods, Inc. Saputo Cheese USA Saputo Cheese USA Saputo Cheese USA Saputo Cheese USA Saputo Cheese USA Sargento Sargento Sargento Sargento Schreiber Foods, Inc. Schreiber Foods, Inc. BABY & INFANT Abbott Laboratories Mead Johnson FROZEN Kraft Foods Nestle Nestle Nestle Tony’s Pizza Co. PASTA, RICE, SAUCES, AND SOUPS Campbell Soup Co. Campbell Soup Co. Glory Foods Kraft Foods Lipton Ragu	PRODUCT BRAND NAME Best Yet Gelatin Royal Gelatins JELLO Worestershire Sauce Marshmallows Bag Gravy Bag Chili Sauces Ruby Red (All Varieties) White Cranberry Peach Frozen Bread Loaves Fresh Bake Shop Products Jewel 10ct. Buttermilk Biscuits Jewel Homestyle Biscuits Corn Bread mix All can refrigerated biscuits Dolly Madison Cupcakes Hostess Cupcakes Hostess SnoBalls Pop-Tarts (frosted) Pop-Tarts Pastry Swirls Rice Krispies Treats Squares Any product containing gelatin Bear Claws Cinnamon Rolls Danish (All Varieties) Gold Fish Crackers Pepperidge Farm Cakes Classic French Cheesecake Strawberry French Cheesecake French Silk Pies Tropical Coconut Cream Pies Tangy Lemon Meringue Pies Banana Cake Aldi’s Baker’s Treat toaster pastries Altoid Mints All Gummy Candies Baked Lay’s Cheetos Doritos Nacho Cheese Doritos Salsa Verde Tortilla chips Doritos Smokey /Red BBQ tortilla chips Fritos Chili brand chips Grandma’s Homestyle Molasses Cookie KC Masterpiece BBQ chips Lay’s Flavor Rush Cheddar BBQ chips Ruffles Brand DIPS Ruffles Buffalo Style chips Ruffles Flavor Rush: BBQ-Cheddar Chips Ruffles The Works chips SunChips French Onion Multigrain Snacks All Candies with Gelatin Amazin' Fruit (All Varieties) Good N' Fruity & Good N' Plenty Jolly Rancher Gummis Oke-Doke Cheese Popcorn Peeps Marshmallow Candy M&M candies Snickers Bar 3 Musketeer Bar Milky Way Bar Twix Bar Skittles Candies Starburst Fruit Chews Starburst Fruit Twist Planters Cheese Balls Planters Cheese Curls Crème Savers Candies Most candies Gummy Sweetarts Marshmallow Peanuts MooTown Snacks Cheeze & Sticks MooTown Cheeze & Pretzels MooTown Cheeze & Crackers Aldi Brand Dippables Cheese & Sticks Mamba candies Riesen candies Werthers candies Junior Mints Tootsie Rolls Mentos (All Varieties) White Cheddar Popcorn Cheese Twist Cheese Crunchy’s Nacho Cheese Flavored Pizzeria Pizza Chips Clorets gum Extra Polar Ice Gum Most Cereals Marshmallow Froot Loops Snack-Ums Rice Krispies Treat Krunch Marshmallow Mateys Cereal Frosted Mini Spooners Golden Puffs Apple & Cinnamon Flavor Maple & Brown Sugar Flavor Variety Pack Breakfast Best Low Fat Granola Cereal with Raisins Fat-Free Light Sweet Cream & Calcium Borden brand cheeses Process cheeses Cheese Loaf singles Hot Pepper cheeses Dairy products Sundae Shoppe Ice Cream Sandwich Sundae Shoppe Nut Cones Sundae Shoppe Strawbery Swirl Ice cream Dreamery's Galactic Choc. Swirl Ice cream Edy's Rocky Road Parmesan Cheese Blue Cheese Dressing Ceasar Salad Dressing Ranch Salad Dressing Kraft singles Kraft Velveeta Cheeses Cheeses Oberweiss, Low Fat Yogurt Oberweiss, Milk Ranch Dressing Dragone Gardenia Frigo Lorraine Stella 6 Cheese Italian Blend Romano/Provolone Cheese Wedges Light 6 Cheese Italian Blend Light Sliced Provolone Cub Store Brand Cheeses Ultra Food Store Brand Cheeses Similac Lactose Free Nutramigen hypoallergenic formula Digiorno Pizza, 4 Cheese Stouffer’s Noodles Romanoff Stouffer’s Meals w/Cheese Stouffer’s (All Other Meals) Tony’s Pizza (All varieties) Franco American Pasta Prego Pasta Sauces Seasoned Blackeye Peas Kraft Macaroni & Cheese All Products Containing Gelatin Pasta Sauces w/ cheese	INGREDIENTS Pork Gelatin, Pork Pork Fish Gelatin, Pork Pork Pork Red #40, Synthetic Canthaxanthin Enzymes, pork Beef/Pork Tallow, Beef Tallow, Beef Lard, Pork Beef / Pork Gelatin, Pork Gelatin, Pork Gelatin, Pork Gelatin, Beef Gelatin, Beef Gelatin, Pork Gelatin, Pork Pork Pork Pork Enzy., Beef/Micro Gelatin, Pork Gelatin,Beef/Pork Gelatin,Beef/Pork Gelatin, Pork Gelatin, Pork Gelatin, Pork Pork Beef, Pork, or Soy Pork Gelatin, Pork Chicken Rennet/Calf Rennet/Calf Chicken Beef Beef Gelatin, Pork Chicken Beef Gelatin, Pork Chicken Beef Bacon fat Bacon fat Gelatin, Pork Gelatin, Pork Carmine/Cochineal Gelatin, Pork Enzyme, Pork Gelatin, Pork Gelatin, Beef Gelatin, Beef Gelatin, Beef Gelatin, Beef Gelatin, Beef Gelatin, Beef Gelatin, Beef Gelatin, Beef Gelatin, Pork/Beef Gelatin, Pork/Beef Pork Gelatin, Beef Gelatin, Pork/Beef Gelatin, Pork Rennet, Beef Rennet, Beef Rennet, Beef Beef Rennet Beef Beef Beef Pork Beef and Pork Gelatin, Beef Enzymes, Pork Enzymes, Pork Enzymes, Pork Enzymes, Microbial Pork Beef and Pork Gelatin, Pork/Beef Gelatin, Beef Gelatin, Pork Gelatin, Pork Gelatin, Pork Gelatin, Pork Gelatin, fish Gelatin, fish Gelatin, fish Gelatin, fish Fish gelatin Gelatin, Beef/Pork Gelatin, Beef/Pork Gelatin, Beef/Pork Enzyme, Beef Beef and Pork Beef and Pork Beef and Pork Gelatin, Beef Cow Cow Cow Gelatin, Pork Gelatin, Pork Rennet, Beef/Pork Calf Romano, goat & lamb Calf Enzymes, Beef/Pork Enzymes, Beef/Pork Enzymes, Beef/Pork Pork Gelatin, Beef VD3, Non-pork Cow Enzyme, calf,kid,lamb Enzyme, calf,kid,lamb Enzyme, calf,kid,lamb Enzyme, calf,kid,lamb Enzyme, calf,kid,lamb Beef Beef Beef Beef Beef Beef Enzyme, pork Enzyme, pork Enzymes, goat,kid,lamb Gelatin, Pork Enzymes, Beef/Pork Pork derivatives L-cysteine Enzymes, Beef/Pork Enzymes, Beef/Pork Pork Fat Flavor Enzy., Pork Gelatin, Pork Pork

Prabhupada:"The thing is they supply more spices, and especially that mustard. This is not good. This is prohibited.
Tamala Krsna: It should be mild, prasadam.
Prabhupada: Practically no spices. Simply little cumin. And this turmeric. Turmeric you get from India, whole turmeric. This powdered turmeric is very, very bad.
Tamala Krsna: Unhealthy.
Harikesa: They put sawdust in it.
Prabhupada: That's all.
Tamala Krsna: It's very unhealthy.
Prabhupada: It is very cheating. Any powdered spice is not good.
Harikesa: Asafoetida also.
Prabhupada: Everything. As soon as it is powder, they will mix with all rubbish things. And it is very easy to cheat you. You are susceptible for being cheated. So they take advantage and cheat you. So best thing is to import spices from India whole and either get it powdered or during time of cooking you make them paste. That is first class.
Srila Prabhupada Morning Walk, 07-01-75, Denver

AVOIDING ADULTERATED FOODSTUFFS

When buying foodstuffs in or from India, be particularly careful that no adulterants have been added. Srila Prabhupada instructed that ground spices should always be avoided, for this reason. Better to buy whole masalas and grind them yourself, so you're sure of the purity.

Substance	Adulterant	Test
Asafoetida	Resin or gum, scented and coloured	a) Pure asafoetida dissolves in water to form milk white solution. b) Pure asafoetida burns with a bright flame on being lightened.
Bajri	Ergot seeds	When put in water the ergot seeds will float after some time
Burra sugar	Washing soda	a) Gives effervescence with hydrochloric acid if washing soda is present. b) If dissolved in water the washing soda will turn red litmus paper blue.
Butter & Ghee	Hydrogenated vegetable fat (vanaspati)	Dissolve 1 teaspoon of sugar in 10cc of Hydrochloric acid, add 10cc of melted butter, ghee and shake thoroughly for 1 minute, allow to stand for 10 minutes. If vanaspati has been added to butter or ghee, the aqueous layer will be coloured red.
Cardamon (elaichi)	The essential oil is removed and the pods are dusted with talcum powder	On rubbing, the talcum will stick to the fingers. On tasting if there is hardly any aromatic flavour, it indicates removal of essential oil.
Chilly powder	Sawdust and colours	Sprinkle on the surface of water. Wood shavings float and added colour will stain water
Cinnamon (dalchini)	Cassia bark which resembles cinnamon in taste and odour	Added colour comes off in water
Cloves (lavang)	Essential oil may have been removed	If so, the cloves will be shrunken in appearance.
Coriander (dhaniya) powder	Horse dung, powdered husk	No test. Buy whole dhaniya and powder at home.
Cumin seeds (jeera)	May contain grass seeds coloured with charcoal dust	When rubbed, fingers will turn black.
Edible oil	Argemone oil — highly poisonous	A reddish brown precipitate is formed when hydrochloric acid is gently mixed with ferric chloride solution
Gur	Metanil yellow	Hydrochloric acid added to the gur solution will turn it magenta in colour
Hing	a) Artificial Aroma b) Coloured resin or glue	Pure hing dissolves in water, producing a milky white emulsion. If ignited, pure hing burns with a bright flame.
Ice cream	a) Saccharine b) Dulien Sweet c) Cyclamate	The ice cream will have a slightly bitter taste when saccharine is added
Milk	Water	Measure the specific gravity with a lactometer, which is available with any chemist. The normal milk values will fall between 1.030 and 1.034. Milkmen are wise to the test and may detect the milk to give the right reading. So this is only a rough test
Rawa	Iron fillings to add weight	Pass a magnet through the rawa. Iron filling will cling to it.
Saffron	Scented and coloured hair of maize	The pieces of pure saffron do not break easily whereas those of the maize hair break easily. Pure saffron dissolves in water whereas spurious saffron will remain undissolved and look like small threads if maize hair are present
Sago	a) Sand b) Talcum	If sand is mixed, it will be easily detected while eating the preparation of sago
Shahjira	a) Wild grass b) Charcoal or brick powd	Rub a little quantity of Shahjira between the palms. Palms will blacken, if charcoal is present.
Turmeric	Metanil yellow colouring	When concentrated hydrochloric acid is added to a solution of turmeric powder it turns magenta, if only turmeric is present the colour disappears, with metanil yellow the colour persists