So I just got some of the good clear vanilla extract that my sister-in-law picked up from Mexico. I like using the clear because it tastes so much better than the artificial brown stuff. Unfortunately, there is corn syrup in this formula which totally grosses me out. Any type of corn syrup is just disgusting, and I don't like that it's in just about everything that we consume.
After seeing that there is corn syrup in the clear stuff, I thought I would check the ingredient list for the artificial vanilla that I had in the cupboard. To my surprise, the second ingredient is propylene glycol. For those of you that don't know propylene glycol is found in a lot of personal care products, especially deodorants, and is thought to cause cancer, reproductive toxicity, allergies and immune system toxicity, skin and eye irritations, organ system toxicity, endocrine disruption, and neurotoxicity. It is a relative of antifreeze, and should not be in our personal care products let alone our food products.
So if you've got some vanilla in your cupboard, check the ingredients and toss it out if it says propylene glycol. You can get some organic and fair trade vanilla extract at Frontier Natural Products Co-op. Take care of yourselves and I'll talk to you soon.
Andi
Good Things Green Things
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3 comments:
Wow. Thanks for sharing.
I just found this while doing a search on Propylene glycol in artificial vanilla extract; I was just at the store today, wondering what was IN artificial extract, and when I read propylene glycol I thought 'Isn't this stuff related to antifreeze?'
Crazy what they're considering edible, now.
I once made my own natural vanilla extract using vanilla beans and vodka. After taking organic chemistry and learning about propylene glycol, I would like to add that the toxic effects listed above only occur when it's consumed in doses far beyond what one a person would get in personal care and food products. Antifreeze that's made with propylene glycol is significantly safer than antifreeze made with ethylene glycol. Vanilla extract is supposed to have 35% alcohol and of course high doses of ethanol are lethal, too.
I'm curious what was in the Mexican vanilla besides corn syrup - was there alcohol? Also, real vanilla beans impart their brown color to liquid, so if the vanilla is clear it's most likely an artificial vanilla - possibly ethyl vanillin derived from coal tar (http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/vanilla.htm) Personally I like the idea of finding organic vanilla beans and a good 80 proof liquor to make your own.
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