Prescenzifall2014EH2000 ·

Castoreum is a flavor added to some foods in the United States and around the world.  Castoreum was used as a medicine in 18th century but is now used to flavor foods and supplement the smell of perfume.  The Romans used to believe that burning the castor gland could induce the abortion of a pregnancy.  Paracelsus though the consumption of castoreum would help treat epilepsy. The product is used to simulate a vanilla, raspberry, or strawberry flavor.  It is currently used in ice cream, tea, jello, fruit drinks, yogurt, alcohol, tobacco products, and even some perfumes. What most people do not know is that castoreum is actually harvested from glands located between the genitals and anus of beavers.  These glands can be harvested from male or female beavers of either the North American, or European species of mature beaver.  At one point in time it was included in an aerosol to re-create the new car scent as it can be made to give off a leathery smell that is desired my many.  The beavers’ castor glands accumulate this flavor/scent from eating the bark of several plants. The FDA has deemed castoreum to be safe for human consumption.  This is usually labeled under  "all natural ingredients"  in food which many consumers find to be somewhat deceptive when they learn what they have actually been eating.  In the wild, beavers use this chemical to spray on there surroundings along with urine to mark there territories.(http://www.snopes.com/food/ingredient/castoreum.asp) When took from the beaver the castoreum resembles a yellow gel like liquid. However, we only use about 292 pounds of castoreum a year. (nowhttp://voices.nationalgeographic.com/2013/10/01/beaver-butts-emit-goo-used-for-vanilla-flavoring/) There are at least twenty-four compounds known to be constituents of beaver castoreum.  Badgers also have similar gland that were used in substitute in Europe during the 18th century.  The British at one point believed it to raise blood pressure and cardiac flow in the early 1900s.