Castoreum aka Beaver Anal Gland Juice

    Do you ever wonder what your food may contain? Well look further no more, I will make your minds travel into a vortex and flip the space time continuum with these stupefying facts. Castoreum is a substance that comes from a beaver’s anal gland, it has been used for about 80 years. It’s been featured in several magazines and news articles. It’s mind-blowing. Castoreum is used in a variety of stuff, Perfumes, a food additive, and medicine. Castoreum smells like vanilla and is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

    Castoreum is found in the beaver anal gland, it has been declared to be fake, but I’m here to tell you that it’s actually true. The article Who figured out a beaver’s behind tasted like raspberry? from Life in a skillet says “After doing a bit of online poking around, I’m declaring this NOT an urban myth." Castoreum isn’t fake, it’s about as real as it gets, most people believe its fake; it’s understandable because I don’t think anyone would believe the fact that beaver anal gland juice is used in our food and beauty products. Several doctors, scientists and newspaper editors have confirmed this anomaly.

    Doesn't beaver anal gland juice sound putrid? It sounds like something you would want to avoid but in fact it’s used in our consumables: food. The article Who figured out a beaver’s behind tasted like raspberry from Life in a skillet says “Castoreum extract presents in the following consumables: Alcoholic beverages, chewing gum, frozen dairy, gelatins and puddings, gravies, meat products, non-alcoholic beverages, soft candy.” Of course it’s probably not found in every single of these food products, but do you really doubt it? This information comes from a reputable source; it came in the 2005 edition of industry handbook Fenaroli’s Flavor Ingredients.

    Why do we use Castoreum though? If it comes from a beaver behind don’t you think we wouldn't eat it or spray it on us as perfume? The truth is that a beaver’s behind smells like vanilla, yes vanilla. In the article Your vanilla Ice cream may actually smell like beaver butt from Time says that “The chemical compound that beavers use to mark their territory has a musky, vanilla scent, which is why some perfume makers incorporate the component into their products.” Castoreum is used as a vanilla additive, basically when you think of vanilla you’re actually thinking of a beavers behind. It’s not only used in food, it’s used in perfume by various perfume makers because of its succulent scent.

    The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved of Castoreum to be used in our products. The article Your vanilla Ice cream may actually smell like beaver butt from Time Magazine says that “The U.S. Food and Drug Administration lists Castoreum as a ‘generally regarded as safe’ additive and it’s been used for at least 80 years. The FDA approved of this, they know how it’s used but most of the public society doesn't really know about it. FDA says it a safe “additive” but is not in the back of the labeled package. They say that it’s not hazardous to our health, it may not be but something that comes out a butt would be the last thing you would want to spray on you, much less consume.

                                                                  References:
Locker,M.(Oct 3, 2013) Your vanilla Ice cream may actually smell like beaver butt. Time
Retrieved on March 9, 2015 from
 newsfeed.time.com/2013/10/03/your-vanilla-ice-cream-actually-smell-like-beaver-butt/

Maggie.(May 11, 2012) Who figured out a Beaver's behind tastes like raspberry? . Life in a Skillet
Retrieved on March 6, 2015 from lifeinaskillet.com/2012/05/castoreum

Pincock, S (March 28, 2005 ) The Quest for Pain Relief. The Scientist
Retrieved on March 11, 2015 from http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/16345/title/The-Quest-for-Pain-Relief/