Artificial Vanilla is Made From Beaver Musk

[Kyoko Sakura]

Source - National Geographic

Beaver butts secrete a goo called castoreum, which the animals use to mark their territory. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration lists castoreum as a "generally regarded as safe" additive, and manufacturers have been using it extensively in perfumes and foods for at least 80 years[...]

Instead of smelling icky, castoreum has a musky, vanilla scent, which is why food scientists like to incorporate it in recipes[...]

Because of its FDA label, in some cases, manufacturers don’t have to list castoreum on the ingredient list and may instead refer to it as "natural flavoring." Yum.

 

[DragonFreak]

This just makes me like artificial vanilla more.

 

[LeftyGreenMario]

I know this already. :P

 

[Ultraluigi]

remind me to not eat vanilla
i don't want beaver bum goo in my food lol

 

[Weasel]

spooty fda

 

[Zae]

well aint that just a butt load

 

[Lario]

What's real/organic these days?

 

[Toad Eightyfive]

It's supposedly a safe ingredient for human consumption, so I don't really see why it matters where it comes from.

 

[Ray Trace]

So, anything about our old friend, cochineal extract? Y'know, red food coloring extracted from a beetle used in ruby red Tropicana grapefruit juice or Dole cherry cups.

There's nothing to be concerned about, just like the extra "protein" in your food (like, y'know, rodent pellets in your popcorn), but if you're a vegan, it might be a little issue.

 

[Baby Mario Bloops]

"Don't ask; don't tell."

If it tastes good, and I can stomach it, then I'm fine with it.

 

[DragonFreak]

You know the phrase "ignorance is bliss"? I live by that.

 

[Ray Trace]

Tsk tsk ignorance makes people morons

but I make exceptions