Wednesday

Mmmmm, yummm, Do you eat 'Vanilla Flavoring'? Stop! Read this!


 Everybody knows who and what this funny animal is right?  
It's a Bever!

I read an article about "Vanilla Flavoring".  Yes, those of us who have bought vanilla flavoring to use in place of the expensive 100% vanilla, or it was in the cake mix you just made or in your sodas or packaged puddings or ice cream or yogurt, any food that says "Artificial Vanilla".. that would be thousands of products you buy in a package or box or can!
 Did you know what is in that 'Vanilla Flavoring"?
"Beaver anal gland juice" Really!
I don't want to gross you all out but you must read this article...

All together now,, Mmmmm, I just love Vanilla, no, were talking about "Artifical Vanilla Flavoring"

 Truth is, chemicals that are used as weed killer, flame retardant, and sunscreen are startlingly common in your supermarket. But you won’t find “carcinogens,” “paint chemicals,” or “beaver anal gland juice” on the back panel. They’ll be hidden under names like “Butylated HydroxyAnisole” or “natural flavoring.” Break through the science experiment to find out what you’re really eating. 
 Natural Flavors
 The name sounds innocent enough, but these mild-sounding words are used by the food industry as an umbrella term for some pretty horrible stuff
 you must not have heard of castoreum, which is “used extensively in perfumery and has been added to food as a flavor ingredient for at least 80 years.”
Castoreum is a product of the trapping industry. When beavers are skinned for their fur, these glands are taken out, and are sold after being smoked or sun-dried to prevent putrefaction…
Castoreum is used in “high class” perfumery for “refined leathery nuances.” It is also reportedly used in some incense. In food, castoreum is used to flavor candies, drinks, and desserts such as puddings.
This means that 'naturall flavors' or 'Organic flavors' can be used in the ingrediants description!!! -- Look for natural Vanilla Bean flavoring

I think it's time for all consumers to revolt!
Tell the food companies "We will not stand for the horrible things that are put in our food"
I'll admit I changed my eating habits years ago going vegetarian  and if it's in a box, I don't buy it.  I don't eat meat or drink sodas!  But 'vanilla flavoring' I'm as guilty as the next person, but will never buy it or anything with it again!  
My toes curl when I think about it!
Saying Mmmm, I love vanilla, but this!! 
EwwwWwwww!   
* * * * *

Non-Alcoholic Vanilla Extract
 
2 vanilla beans
1 1/2 cups glycerin
1/2 cup warm water

Directions:

Slit beans down the middle, and scrape down seeds.

Place both in glycerin and warm water.

Place in a dark jar (or a light jar in a dark place).

Let sit for a month or so.

Shake often.

Strain. (optional).

* * * * * *
I'm linking up to Jenny Matlocks letter "M" for this week.
Alphabet Thursday 

Fertilizer Friday 
What To Do Weekend 

28 comments:

Old Time Cindy said...

Did not know that, but I try not to eat much in processed foods. I do buy the true vanilla and hope to make my own sometime soon. There are many hidden culprits in our food and it's best to eat as pure as possible.
Farmhouse hugs,
Cindy

carol l mckenna said...

Very informative post for 'M" ~ great photo ~

Carol of (A Creative Harbor) ^_^

EG CameraGirl said...

EW! Pretty soon I won't be able to eat anything!

Patricia @ 9th and Denver said...

Well...I'm no longer putting off making my own.
I've had the Homemade Vanilla made with Vodka on my list of 'cool' things to make.
This I think will bump it up on the list!
Now...to google the ingredients of VODKA.
yes, because ...I really don't know.

:) Pat

Eden House News and views said...

I am sure you're aware that herein the uk we are currently in a horse meat issue .
Now personally I do not have any issues with eating horse , but I do have an issue with being lied to.
I am sure if everyone analysed the food they eat much less would be eaten.,
I would not be veggie because I don't want to eat animals . I wold become veggie because I do not want the chemicals that are used in many animals entering my system.
I use a very good butcher , having said thati really do not eat much meat.would love to be a confident veggie knowing thati was getting all I needed iny diet . Thank you so much for sharingq

Naperville Now said...

I must confess I checked snopes.com before commenting. If they say it's true, then it is. Pardon me while I go throw out everything in my pantry.

Lottie said...

Wow! You did gross me out!!! Thanks for this post!

Along These Lines ... said...

Would never use anything other than pure vanilla.

Esther Joy said...

I'm with Lottie - that pretty much grossed me out, ...and I thought I was good at reading labels!

Meredith @ The Laundry Can Wait said...

Lord Almighty, I'm not going to eat much of anything for awhile...

In other news, Happy Valentine's Day to you, Sandy!!

debra @ homespun said...

yuck. LOL! great M post!

Lola said...

As Tracy says above, here in Europe we're plagued with a horsemeat scandal!

Great, informative post!

Unknown said...

Wow! I thought is came from the vanilla bean.

Judie said...

Eeewwwwww! I'll stick to real vanilla beans from now on! Very informative post!!!

SarahBeth said...

Oh no! Poor beavers! Thank goodness I only use 100% pure vanilla! But the stuff in boxes and cans -- you're right, there's so much hidden. Yuck!

Rocky Mountain Woman said...

I never use artificial vanilla, I didn't know about this though!

YIKES!!!!!!!

Maria's Space said...

YUCK! Thanks for the knowledge. That is just nasty. I will never use it again.
My post if you want to check it out is
here

Unknown said...

Yuck! That is gross:( Not again!
This such a very good post. Thank you for the knowledge.

Susan said...

Oh my LORD, Sandy. That was extremely informative. Glad I always buy the expensive 100 percent "pure" vanilla. But it makes you wonder what other putrifactions are in our foods.

Thanks so much for Following my blog! You were the 350ths Follower. I'm following you now, too!

Hope you have a beautiful Saturday. Susan

Karen said...

Well, I need to lose weight anyway, so I think I'll just swear off food in general, lol. Who would think vanilla flavoring would come from beavers? I mean who dreams this stuff up? Beaver glands for vanilla flavoring and somewhere I read they crush some bugs to make red food coloring (hey it's natural, too, can't get more natural than a bug, can you?) It's really criminal.

Thank you for the article, Sandy.

Lmkazmierczak said...

Lots of things we consume are disgusting when you get to the little known facts, but our bodies are amazing and able to adapt...Just think what the pioneers, Pilgrims, Native American, etc ate...and drank...that muddy water! Great Mmmm pondering post, here's my effort: http://lmkazmierczak.blogspot.com/2013/02/mosaic-mosaic.html

Anita @ GoingALittleCoastal said...

I just made my own vanilla with vodka and used it for the first time yesterday! But sadly I do eat vanilla yogurt so now I'm really grossed out!

Crafts a la Mode said...

It's pretty gross. Thanks for linking. Linda

Heather@http://southernabbey.com said...

I was so happy when I read about the Snowbird Citrus and now I'm so sad for all the times I ate artificial vanilla flavoring. :(

Taunnie said...

Yuck! I can't believe what is allowed in our food. I knew it was bad (I like to make most of my family's meals from scratch so I known what's in what we are eating) but I didn't know it was this bad. Thanks for letting us in on some of the food industry's secrets!

Pondside said...

Major yuck!! We'll all be living on bread and water.

One Mother Hen said...

Thanks for the heads up. That is just plain grosse, and who found out in the first place that a beavers butt gland smelt and tasted like vanilla. wonders never cease!

Jenny said...

Um.

Yowser.

I have always bought natural vanilla (and sometimes even make my own).

This post will ensure that my habit never changes!

They should ask this question sometime on 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire'! ha!

Thanks for the 'ewwww' and the fun post.

A+