In my previous post about Children’s taste buds and some amazingly addicting ingredients in “juice” boxes, processed foods and so on I discussed a few ingredients to be wary of.

Today I’d like to share two more pesky ingredients. There are of course LOADS of them out there, especially with food colorings but here are two that may be information that is “new.”

I know this can be a lot of information to retain at first. One of the ways that helped me learn about these things was I would write down or look-up ingredients on boxes right away. A friend or acquaintance would mention something that I would be unfamiliar with and I would do more research.

Almost always, if you can not pronounce an ingredient or you wouldn’t be able to find it in the average persons cabinet then it’s safe to say it should not be consumed. I share a list of food morals in this post if this is something that interests you 😀

So just a heads up some of these ingredients are actually made out of fairly nasty and disgusting things! May be put any snacky poos you are munching on down and just take it as it comes. 

❤

Castoreum

This is a food flavoring extracted from the castor sac scent glands of the male or female beaver, which are located near the anus. It is a yellowish secretion in combination with the beaver’s urine, used during scent marking of territory. To make the quantity needed for perfumes, flavor extracts, alcohol, cigarettes (odor & flavor) and foods (ice cream, soda, baked goods, gum, yogurt, gelatin, candy) it takes a lot of these glands. Yet fresh vanilla beans most likely cost more so it depends on the integrity of the company if this ingredient is used or not. Believe it or not, this ingredient is considered safe by the FDA and it is perfectly OK for it to be listed as “natural flavoring” and always is bunched into this category.

Are organic foods safe from Castoreum? 

I wish I had an answer :-X If you call a company they will not release if they use this ingredient or not and it is not required of them. The best advice I can give is to stick with vegan certified products and/or kosher certified products. Also, use fresh vanilla bean, pastes or homemade extracts instead.

Other ingredients listed as “natural flavoring” that may not be a natural choice to consume?

* First of all, just because something is listed as a “natural flavoring” does not mean it is organic. * “Natural flavors” can ingredient meat, dairy, eggs, and other animal products.

Wood can actually be used as a “natural flavor”

Cellulose, derived mainly from wood pulp and cotton which is more commonly known for creating packaging and paper but is also in food. It’s what gives shredded or sting cheese that pull.

 Liquid smoke, which is made by burning sawdust and capturing the components in either water or a vegetable oil.

Sodium Benzoate

Sodium benzoate is what gives soda the fizzy tingling sensation as it travels down your throat. It is an extremely common preservative that according to the FDA it is safe. Sodium Benzoate is the sodium salt of benzoic acid and exists in this form when dissolved in water. It can be produced by reacting sodium hydroxide with benzoic acid.

Sodium benzoate has been linked to causing serious side effects, including brain damage, personality disorders, gastrointestinal problems, autism, and various other neurological problems according to NaturalNews.com. In this article there are some more findings that have serious consequences with consumption, if you or a loved one is trying to kick soda and other sodium benzoate items please read.

Other items this can be found in is: meat, soups, baked treats, salad dressings, jams, fizzy drinks, condiments, and pickles. It creates that acid taste and texture so in most of these it’s the vinegar or acid to keep the food preserved.

* Benzoic acid is naturally found in foods, but sodium benzoate is a food additive. *

Organic foods do not use sodium benzoate! So please please please, make your own dressings, drinks, condiments and fermented foods ❤ Put them in beautiful bottles, give them funky labels, and share them with others.

I am sharing this information with you so you can make the choices you feel most happy with. Please take the time to read packages, research ingredients, look them up on your phone, or just put the box back on the shelf. We are given one beautiful life where we can choose to learn what we can, and make the choices that serve our bodies best. With awareness and spreading information may be we can go back to the days where these pesky ingredients were never used.

Much love ❤ and raw power 😉

Jess