... 2020 by Snopes Media Group Inc. Internet fact checking site Snopes gave the claim that castorum is a commonly used food additive a rating of “mostly false”. In late 2020, internet users highlighted a shocking episode from the legendary blues guitarist's past. While most of us are aware that vanilla extracts and vanilla flavoured things come from vanilla pods, there are non-plant ways of creating artificial vanilla flavourings. A beaver … The answer is yes, there is a food additive called castoreum that is derived from certain glands of the beaver and it can be used as a flavoring ingredient in foods.Although it is a flavoring ingredient, it is not a vanilla, raspberry, or strawberry flavoring, as is often reported. (If you haven't heard that rumor, you might have just spit out your coffee. Per Snopes: “Getting a beaver to produce castoreum for purposes of food processing is tough. A viral anti-vaccine video mangles the science behind the production of a potential COVID-19 vaccine. It's also found in perfume. In 2019, Professor Chilcott told the academic website The Conversation: “Beavers can heave a sigh of relief. Get hold of social media . The website explains that the total annual national consumption of castoreum, castoreum extract and castoreum liquid combined is only around 292 pounds, “which works out to an average of less than a millionth of a pound per person in the US”. Source: National Geographic: Beaver Butts Emit Goo Used for Vanilla Flavoring Beaver butts secrete a goo called castoreum, which the animals use to mark their territory. On the basis of this information, low-level, long-term exposure to castoreum extract does not pose a health risk. Burdock Group. Due to the beaver’s typical diet of leaves and bark, castoreum doesn’t “stink” as other similar animal secretions do, but rather has a musky, vanilla scent described at the perfume site Fragrantica as a “sharp spreading tar-like note that reminds one of the odor of birch tar or Russian leather” that when diluted in alcohol picks up “more pleasant, musky and fruity nuances.”. Due to such unpleasantness for both parties, castoreum consumption is rather small. It’s a thick, dark-brown secretion often described as “brown slime” that comes from the beaver’s caster glands, located under their big floppy tail. International Journal of Toxicology. Joanna Crawford, a wildlife ecologist at Southern Illinois University, told National Geographic that to acquire the castoreum, the beaver needs to be anaesthetised and then it’s nether regions are “milked”. What makes this substance so interesting? The vanilla scent is often attributed to the animal’s diet of bark and leaves. Real vanilla is anything but "plain" - it's one of the most complex flavors known, there's something like 250 identified compounds in a bean. Reply Beavers use this substance, which is usually brown and sticky, to mark their territory. In order to avoid falling afoul of the age-old axiom, "Who deduced it produced it," all we'll say is that the audio is authentic. The lore of castoreum has led many to believe that it is still the main ingredient in the the “natural flavoring” you’ll find in many vanilla products, but alas, that is untrue. Depending upon as scarce a substance as castoreum to flavor the ice cream and candy found on store shelves would create nationwide shortages of those items and drive up their prices beyond the reach of all but the wealthiest consumers. Wow! ©JPIMedia Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved. Moreover, who in the hell first ate a beaver’s castor sac? A chemical compound used to flavor vanilla and aromas that comes from the anal glands of a beaver. Natural aromas can be extracts from plants, fungi, and in some cases animals. Snopes and the Snopes.com logo are registered service marks of Snopes.com. Jan.-Feb. 2007; 26(1):51-5. Due to beavers' diet of leaves and bark, castoreum—to some people—smells like vanilla, and it's an ingredient in vanilla flavoring for some food products. The Snopes piece openly states as much, but points out almost no one actually uses it for that due to impracticalities and the general gross factor. “You can squirt [castoreum] out. Does Your Food Contain Beaver Anal Secretions? Castoreum comes from a beaver's castor sacs, located between the pelvis and base of the tail. Q: A friend just came back from Mexico with a pint of Mexican vanilla. Nonplant vanilla flavoring In the United States, castoreum, the exudate from the castor sacs of mature beavers, has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a food additive, often referenced simply as a "natural flavoring" in the product's list of ingredients. After googling the question, he shouts: “No more vanilla!”. Beaver castoreum explained - and why we use it in cakes and icing, Edinburgh restaurant Wings saved within 48 hours thanks to crowdfunding efforts, Edinburgh restaurant Wings offers free chicken wings for life a crowdfunder reward, St James Quarter in Edinburgh: All the shops confirmed for the new retail hub, All I Want For Christmas Is You: release date and how much Mariah Carey earns each year from the Christmas song, 59 best Christmas jokes for kids 2020: funny one-liners and puns to make children laugh this Xmas, Christmas events Edinburgh 2020: all the festive light displays, Santa’s Grottos and winter festivities coming to Scotland's capital this year, This website and its associated newspaper are members of Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Isn’t it banned in the US for health reasons, specifically a toxic component? Snopes and the Snopes.com logo are registered service marks of Snopes.com. Foodies bent on acquiring some of the sticky stuff have to anesthetize the animal and then “milk” its nether regions. I also think it compliments the flavours of eggs and sugar incredibly. ... 2020 by Snopes Media Group Inc. This material may not be reproduced without permission. Skin sensitization has not been observed in human subject tests. Due to the beaver’s typical diet of leaves and bark, castoreum doesn’t “stink” as other similar animal secretions do, but rather has a musky, vanilla scent described at … Both beaver sexes have a pair of castor sacs and a pair of anal glands, located in two cavities under the skin between the pelvis and the base of the tail. Using secretions from the rear end of a beaver to make food taste better and perfume smell better is no longer an industry secret, now that Tamworth Distillery has …