The Swedish National Food Agency confirmed that beaver anal secretions can be used in baked goods and will provide a taste similar to vanilla.
Ulla Beckman Sundh of the Swedish agency noted, “Natural aromas can be extracts from plants, fungi, and in some cases animals. The labelling provisions do not require that the kind of flavour is indicated, with the exception of coffee and quinine.”
Despite the Swedish agency’s confirmation, the use of the secretion known as “castoreum” is not new. It has been used in the manufacture of perfume and for medicinal purposes. In the U.S., about 300 pounds of castoreum is used in substitute vanilla products per year.
It isn’t believed that the beaver will suddenly become a high-yield source of vanilla substitute products, although in the 19th century the beaver population in Sweden was nearly wiped out when castoreum rose in popularity in natural medicines.
Sources
- Beaver butt secretion good for baking: agency (The Local: September 15, 2013)
- Beavers’ secretions can create taste similar to vanilla in baked goods (UPI: September 15, 2013)
