Food Quote by Mary Roach
““Our hair is as much as 14 percent L-cysteine, an amino acid commonly used to make meat flavorings and to elasticize dough in commercial baking. How commonly? Enough to merit debate among scholars of Jewish dietary law, or kashrut. “Human hair, while not particularly appetizing, is Kosher,” states Rabbi Zushe Blech, the author of Kosher Food Production, on Kashrut.com “There is no ‘guck’ factor,” Blech maintained, in an e-mail. Dissolving hair in hydrochloric acid, which creates the L-cysteine, renders it unrecognizable and sterile.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers, Mary Roach, 2003
Hair contains L-cysteine, a protein component also used in food processing, making it technically permissible under Jewish law despite its unappetizing nature.
In simple terms: Hair has a food‑grade chemical that can be used in kosher foods.
Key Takeaway
Recognize that scientific facts can challenge dietary assumptions.
Themes
food science
religion
kashrut
ethics
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
informative
educational
When to use this quote
- food production
- kosher certification
- culinary research
- public health discussions
Key Concepts
L‑cysteine
protein chemistry
dietary law
Questions to Reflect On
- Should scientific permissibility override cultural discomfort?
- How do we balance tradition with modern food technology?
A Different Perspective
The ethical implications of using animal‑derived ingredients may still concern some observers.
![“[S]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once, for example, when I was just starting out in the food business, I was hired by the caper people to develop a lot of recipes using capers, and it was weeks of…” quote by Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d79/nora-ephron-1217_business_s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-th_980.jpg)
