Dead humans are not being pumped into U.S. food supply

The claim 

A post circulating on Facebook (archived here), which has been shared more than 900 times and has received more than 650 likes so far, claims that "dead humans are being pumped into the U.S. food supply." 

This post features a headline from an article (archived here) on The People's Voice website, asserting that the remains of deceased people are being introduced into the food supply through a process called "water cremation" or "alkaline hydrolysis."

The same claim has also been circulating on X (example archived here), receiving more than 148,000 views and 1,600 shares. 

However, this is not true. Alkaline hydrolysis does not introduce human remains into the U.S. food supply.

In fact

The article on The People's Voice website, which has a history of making false claims that we have debunked, cites a report (archived here) from Natural News – a site identified by Logically Facts for spreading health-related misinformation – as its primary source. 

The two articles are almost identical, both claiming that, according to the testimony of several "top scientists," the remains of deceased individuals are being secretly introduced into the U.S. food supply through a process known as alkaline hydrolysis. 

In addition, the articles suggest that "mainstream media asserts there is no human DNA, flesh, or pathogens remaining after the process, but who believes anything Big Food claims anymore?"

The articles also argue that after this process, "human bones are ground into powder and used as calcium phosphate in prescriptions that supposedly 'treat' calcium deficiencies," implying that human remains may be present in calcium supplements consumed by the public.

Both articles misrepresent the by-products of alkaline hydrolysis and falsely claim, providing no evidence, that human remains are entering the U.S. food supply.

Such claims are not unprecedented. In the 2021 ACTEC Law Journal, law professor Victoria J. Haneman noted that a lawmaker in Indiana – who was also a casket maker – opposed the legalization of alkaline hydrolysis, falsely claiming "bodies would be dissolved in acid and sent down the sewer." 

Haneman pointed out that by-products from embalming and funeral homes are already entering municipal sewer systems across various U.S. states. She argued that it makes no sense to single out alkaline hydrolysis as it poses no greater risk than other regulated methods.

What remains after alkaline hydrolysis?

Alkaline hydrolysis is a process in which human remains are decomposed by dissolving the body in a solution of 95 percent water and five percent alkali. The solution is heated and pressurized in a stainless steel tank. According to scientific reports, the only by-products of this process are bone fragments and a sterile liquid.

Originally patented in the U.S. in 1888 for the disposal of animal carcasses, the process has gained popularity as an environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional burial and cremation.

The liquid by-product of alkaline hydrolysis is free of human DNA, pathogens, and protein-based material, consisting primarily of amino acids, peptides, and sugars. All proteins, cells, fats, RNA, and DNA are broken down into basic chemicals, and prions, viruses, and bacteria are destroyed. 

The water-soluble by-products of alkaline hydrolysis include salts and amino acids, which the Cremation Association of North America describes as "far cleaner than most wastewater." 

The sterile liquid is then released into the local wastewater system, following all applicable laws. Its pH is adjusted to at least 11 before discharge. Due to its composition, wastewater treatment authorities generally welcome the effluent, as it helps purify the water. In some cases, it is even repurposed as fertilizer because of its potassium and sodium content.

Once alkaline hydrolysis is complete, the remaining bone fragments are rinsed and pulverized into fine dust, similar to the ashes from traditional cremation. These fragments are collected and returned to the deceased's family. In addition, metal implants and mercury from dental work can be recovered and recycled. 

There is no evidence to support the claim that human bone fragments are used to treat calcium deficiency. Calcium phosphate, commonly found in calcium supplements, is typically derived from natural sources such as calcium carbonate ores, animal skeletons, marine shells, and crustaceans — not human bones. 

However, calcium carbonate ores may contain harmful substances, like heavy metals, and animal bones can carry the risk of prion transmission. As a result, marine-sourced calcium supplements have become more popular due to their safety, abundance, and biological effectiveness.

Alkaline hydrolysis is currently legal in 28 U.S. states, although this number can fluctuate as laws change. Despite its legal status, the process faces opposition due to concerns about public health, safety, and the dignity of human remains.

The verdict

Scientific studies confirm that alkaline hydrolysis produces two main by-products: bone fragments and a sterile liquid. The bone fragments are ground to ash and returned to the deceased's family, while the sterile liquid, free of human remains and DNA, is safely returned to the natural water cycle. There is no evidence to support the claim that this process introduces human remains into the U.S. food supply.