Fact Check: Artificial vanilla essence used in ice creams, cakes is not extracted from beaver
The most commonly used ingredient in baking, vanilla extract, adds flavor and a sweet smell to the products. It's anti
Vanilla essence
The most commonly used ingredient in baking, vanilla extract, adds flavor and a sweet smell to the products. It's anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant properties can help soothe redness and irritation and treat minor burns. Vanilla extract is also used as a scent in perfume making, lotions, apart from cocktails, to subtle sweetness and flavor. While the vanilla extract is taken out naturally, vanilla essence is artificially made using water, ethanol, propylene glycol, etc. Both are used in cooking different baked items.
Meanwhile, some X users are sharing messages claiming that the vanilla extract used in the ice creams is extracted from the beaver excreta.
An article published by the website ABPlive also claims that the vanilla extract commonly used in ice creams, wafers, biscuits, etc. is collected from an animal called beaver. The substance is called castorium, is produced by glands near the anus of a beaver, and gives out a vanilla fragrance.
Fact Check:
The claim that the vanilla essence generally used in ice creams and other products is collected from the anus of an animal called beaver is False. When we searched about the origin of Vanilla, we found that Vanilla originated in Mexico and is extracted from the Vanilla Orchid plant.
Vanilla is an evergreen vine that can reach up to 15m in length. It has thick stems and greenish-to-yellow flowers. The fruits are long, thin pods that contain thousands of tiny, black seeds. The whole fruit (pod) or tiny seeds of vanilla are used as flavoring agents in food, including cream and custard-based sauces and confectionery.
Here is the video which shows the extraction process of vanilla beans.
When we searched with the keywords like “Vanilla essence + beaver”, we found a few articles stating that it is not true that the artificial extract comes from castoreum extracted from beaver castor sacs.
According to an article published in Business Insider, a professor of Flavor chemistry at Oregon State University named Robert J McGorrin refuted the claim. He stated that the artificial vanilla is made from synthetic Vanillin. This synthetic Vanillin is mainly lab-produced from eugenol, the main ingredient in clove oil.
The article also states that Castoreum does not come from a beaver’s anus. It comes from the animal’s castor sacs. Since they are located near the anal glands, the substance can contain anal gland secretions and urine. Even though the US FDA listed castoreum as ‘generally safe’, castoreum’s use in artificial flavoring is extremely rare.
An article published by National Geographic also states it is rare to have beaver secretions in vanilla ice cream, as castoreum is used for medicinal purposes, it is not used to flavor perfumes and food. Castoreum is very expensive and rare. The process of extraction of Castoreum is complex and invasive. First, the beaver must be anaesthetized and the castor gland “milked” to produce the secretion.
According to an article published in 'Anti additive clean label organization', since at least 2013, only 300 pounds of castoreum has been produced annually.
Hence, the claim that the artificial vanilla essence generally used in ice creams and other products, contains beaver excreta is False.