Hot Pockets’ scary ingredient list. Unfit for humans

Two men by the names of Paul and David Merage, invented Hot Pockets in the 1970’s. Hot Pockets are frozen turnovers made with optional ingredients of meats, cheeses and/or vegetables and reheated in a microwave oven.

The Merages created the Chef America, inc. company in 1983 and started making Hot Pockets to supply grocery stores. 

Nestlé bought Chef America in 2002 and as of 2012, Hot Pockets generated $4.5 billion.
Sales have dropped by hundreds of millions of dollars. I can only imagine it is because consumer are becoming better informed about the dangers of processed foods. Hot Pockets have an extensive ingredients list.

Hot Pockets’ scary ingredient list. Unfit for humans

Ingredients List for a Ham and Cheese Hot Pocket

UNBLEACHED ENRICHED FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, MALTED BARLEY FLOUR, NIACIN, IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), WATER, FULLY COOKED HICKORY HAM AND WATER PRODUCT, 25% OF WEIGHT IS ADDED INGREDIENTS, GROUND AND FORMED, NATURAL HICKORY SMOKE FLAVOR ADDED (CURED WITH WATER, SUGAR, SALT, SODIUM PHOSPHATE, DEHYDRATED PORK BROTH, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, CARRAGEENAN, NATURAL HICKORY SMOKE FLAVOR, SODIUM ERYTHORBATE, SODIUM NITRITE), REDUCED FAT CHEDDAR CHEESE (PASTEURIZED PART SKIM MILK, SKIM MILK, MODIFIED FOOD STARCH*, CULTURES, SALT, FLAVORS*, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE*, ANNATTO, VITAMIN A PALMITATE, ENZYMES, *INGREDIENTS NOT IN REGULAR CHEDDAR CHEESE), IMITATION CHEDDAR CHEESE (WATER, MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, CASEIN, SOYBEAN OIL, WHEY, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF SALT, SODIUM ALUMINUM PHOSPHATE, SODIUM PHOSPHATE, LACTIC ACID, SODIUM CITRATE, NATURAL FLAVOR, ANNATTO [COLOR]), SEASONING (WHEY, CHEDDAR/BLUE CHEESES [PASTEURIZED MILK, CHEESE CULTURES, SALT, ENZYMES], BUTTERMILK, NATURAL FLAVOR, MALTODEXTRIN, COCONUT OIL, DISODIUM PHOSPHATE, CULTURED WHOLE MILK, CITRIC ACID, LACTIC ACID, EXTRACTIVES OF ANNATTO AND TURMERIC), PALM OIL, MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, SEASONING (BREAD CRUMBS [BLEACHED WHEAT FLOUR, DEXTROSE, YEAST, SALT], SEASONING [CHEDDAR AND BLUE CHEESES {MILK, CHEESE CULTURES, SALT, ENZYMES}, WHEY, SALT, DEXTROSE, DRIED ONION, NATURAL FLAVOR, SOYBEAN OIL, GARLIC POWDER, CITRIC ACID, LACTIC ACID, SPICE, EXTRACTIVES OF PAPRIKA AND ANNATTO]), SUGAR, SEASONING (WHEY, SOYBEAN OIL, MALTODEXTRIN, CHEDDAR/BLUE CHEESES [MILK, CHEESE CULTURES, SALT, ENZYMES], NONFAT MILK, SALT, NATURAL FLAVORS, MILK PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, DISODIUM PHOSPHATE, CULTURED MILK, CITRIC ACID, EXTRACTIVES OF ANNATTO, PAPRIKA, AND TURMERIC [COLOR]), FRACTIONATED PALM OIL, SALT, YEAST, DOUGH CONDITIONER (CALCIUM SULFATE, SALT, L- CYSTEINE HYDROCHLORIDE, GARLIC POWDER, TRICALCIUM PHOSPHATE, ENZYMES), DOUGH CONDITIONER (DISTILLED MONOGLYCERIDES WITH ASCORBIC ACID AND CITRIC ACID [ANTIOXIDANTS]), EGG YOLKS, LACTIC ACID, WHEY, SOY FLOUR, EGG WHITES, SOYBEAN OIL. CONTAINS: MILK, EGG, SOY, WHEAT INGREDIENTS.
I know this ingredients list is overwhelming, so let’s look at a few of the ingredients. 

Soybean Oil: Soy is higher in phytoestrogen than any other food. Phytoestrogens are plant based estrogen that mimic the estrogen in our body. Consuming high amounts of phytoestrogen, is the leading cause of breast cancer, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, infertility and low libido.
-Soy is also the king of cell Goitrogens (thyroid suppressors).
-Phytlates found in soy block mineral absorption.
-Also found in Soy, Trypsin inhibitors, inhibits proper digestion of protein.
-93% of Soy is genetically modified.

Modified starch: This is treated with acid to lower viscosity.
-These starches are difficult for the body to digest.
-The gluten in modified starch can make celiac disease worse.
-People can be allergic
-It may lower blood sugar levels making it dangerous for diabetics
-May interfere with blood sugar levels during and after surgery. Modified starches should be avoided 2 weeks before scheduled surgery
-Causes nausea, gas, abdominal cramping, diarrhea, bloating and vomiting

Carrageenan: Keep your eye out because this ingredient can sometimes be in even “organic” products.
-It lowers blood pressure, slows blood clotting
-Causes intestinal lesions, ulceration and malignant tumors
-The past 4 decades, Scientists have repeatedly warned carrageenan is not safe for human consumption

Sodium citrate: This is actually used to treat high acidity levels in blood and urine and should be used with caution. It should not be ingested by people with inflammatory bowl diseases (example: ulcerated colitis) or any gastrointestinal conditions.
-Can cause allergic reactions, muscle twitching or cramps, nervousness, irritability, seizures, bloody diarrhea, stomach pain and vomiting

L-cysteine: is a softening agent that is added to speed up the processing of baked goods. Sometimes this agent is lab created but most often it actually comes from cow horns, human hair, and chicken feathers that has been dissolved in acid to isolate L-cysteine and then it’s added to baked goods.

Casein: is an animal protein found in (cow) dairy products. Casein promotes cancer in all stages. It is a strong mucus forming substance, clogging and irritating the respiratory system. Animal protein allergies are very common.

Annatto: is a red plant extract that has been associated with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, with additional discomforts such as abdominal pain and bloating.
In addition to the long list of nasty ingredients, In 2014 Nestle USA recalled over 238,000 cases of its Hot Pockets. Their beef provider, Rancho Feeding Corporation sold “Unwholesome Meat Products Produced Without the Benefit of Full Inspection”. This massive recall of nearly 9 million pounds of meat was from “diseased and unsound” animals. Nestle stated that “a small quantity of meat” from the Ranchero Feeding Corp was used to make Hot Pockets. The USDA described the food as “unfit for humans”.