Handbook of Vanilla Science and Technology

Most labels carried the name “Pure Vanilla Extract” that which conforms to the FDA standard of identity, which does not require specification of the origin or species of vanilla beans used for the preparation of the extract. However, when a label states “Pure Bourbon Vanilla”, “Pure Tahitian Vanilla”, or “Pure Madagascar Vanilla Extract”, customers expect the product to adhere to what is stated on the label. Our HPLC analysis (described below) questions the authenticity of some of the listed samples.

There was a wide variation in the order of listing ingredients, although common practice in food labeling follows the convention of listing ingredients from the highest to the lowest amounts present in the product. Table 12.1 indicates some samples (2, 3, 4, 5, 12, 15, 19, 20, 33, 34, 36, 38, 52, 54, 56, 60, and 64), which chose to start the list of ingredients with vanilla beans, rather than listing water, the main ingredient, as the first on the list. If we choose to specify the type (premium quality for instance), origin (Mexico, Madagascar or Tahiti, for example), or species of vanilla bean (V. planifolia or V. tahitensis), it could be part of the label name but should appear in the ingredient list in the order of amount.

Table 12.1 Characteristics of the retail vanilla extracts analyzed in this study

Sample Number | Product Name | Amount | Type of Package | List of Ingredients Certification

1 | Vanilla Pure Extract | 2 oz/59 mL | Plastic | Vanilla Bean Extractives in Water, 35% Alcohol and Corn Syrup | Kosher

2 | Pure Vanilla Extract | 2 oz/59 mL | Glass | Vanilla Bean Extractives in Water, 35% Alcohol and Corn Syrup | Kosher

3 | Pure Vanilla Extract | 2 oz/59mL | Glass | Vanilla Bean Extractives in Water, 35% Alcohol and Corn Syrup | Kosher

4 | Pure Vanilla Extract | 1 oz/29 mL | Glass | Vanilla Bean Extractives in Water, 35% Alcohol and Corn Syrup | Kosher

5 | Pure Vanilla Extract | 2 oz/59 mL | Glass | Water, Alcohol, Corn Syrup, and Vanilla Bean Extractives | Kosher

6 | Pure Vanilla Extract | 1 oz/29 mL | Plastic | Water, Alcohol, and Bourbon Vanilla Bean Extractive | Kosher

7 | Pure Vanilla Extract | 2 oz/59 mL | Glass | Water, Alcohol, Extractives of Vanilla Beans | None

8 | Pure Vanilla Extract | 2 oz/59 mL | Plastic | Water. Alcohol, Extractives of Vanilla Beans | None

9 | Pure Vanilla Extract | 2 oz/59 mL | Plastic | Water, Alcohol, Corn Syrup, and Vanilla Bean Extractives | Kosher

10 | Pure Vanilla Extract | 2 oz/59 mL | Glass | Water, Alcohol, Corn Syrup, and Vanilla Bean Extractives | Kosher

11 | Pure Vanilla Extract | 1 oz/29 mL | Glass | Water and Alcohol, Extract of Vanilla Beans, Sugar | None

12 | Pure Vanilla Extract | 2 oz/59 mL | Glass | Vanilla Bean Extractives in Water, 35% Alcohol and Corn Syrup | Kosher

13 | Pure Vanilla Extract | 1 oz/29 mL | Plastic | Water, Alcohol, Extractives of Vanilla Beans | Kosher

14 | Pure Vanilla Extract | 1 oz/59 mL | Glass | Water, Alcohol (35%), Corn Syrup, and Vanilla Bean Extractives | Kosher

15 | Vanilla Extract | 2 oz/59 mL | Plastic | Vanilla Bean, Water, Alcohol | None

16 | Vanilla Extract | 4 oz/1 8 mL | Plastic | Water, Alcohol, Vanilla Bean Extractive | None

17 | Pure Vanilla Flavor | 4 oz/1 8 mL | Plastic | Water, Glycerine, Sugar Cane, Vanilla Bean Extractives | Kosher

18 | Planifolia Vanilla Extract | 4 oz/1 20 mL | Plastic | Water, Alcohol, Planifolia Vanilla Beans | None

19 | Pure Bourbon Vanilla Extract | 4 oz/1 20 mL | Plastic | Bourbon Vanilla Bean Extractives in Water, Alcohol 35% | Kosher

20 | Natural Bourbon Vanilla | 4 oz/1 20 mL | Plastic | Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Bean Extractives and other natural flavors in alcohol, water, and sugar | Kosher

21 | Pure Vanilla Extract | 1 oz/59 mL | Plastic | Water, Alcohol, Extractives of Vanilla Beans | None

22 | Pure Vanilla Extract | 7 oz/207 mL | Plastic | Water, Alcohol (35%), Com Syrup, and Vanilla Bean Extractives | None

23 | Pure Bourbon Vanilla Extract | 32 oz/946 mL | Plastic | Water, Alcohol, Vanilla Bean Extractive | Kosher

24 | Pure Tahitian Vanilla Extract | 32 oz/946 mL | Plastic | Water, Alcohol, Vanilla Bean Extractive | Kosher

25 | Pure Vanilla Extract from Pa pa ntla | 30 mL | Glass | Water, Alcohol, Extractives of Vanilla Beans | Kosher

26 | Vanilla Extract Pure | 2 oz/59 mL | Glass | Water, Alcohol, Extractives of Vanilla Beans | None

27 | Vanilla | 2 oz/59 mL | Glass | Water, Alcohol, Extractives of Vanilla Beans | None

28 | Pure Vanilla Extract | 2 oz/59 mL | Glass | Water, Alcohol, Vegetable Glycerine, and Vanilla Bean Extractives | Kosher

29 | Pure Vanilla Extract | 2 oz/59 mL | Glass | Water, Alcohol, Vanilla Extractives | None

30 | Vanilla Extract | 2 oz/59 mL | Glass | Water, Organic Alcohol, Organic Vanilla Bean Extractives | Kosher

31 | Pure Vanilla Extract | 2 oz/59 mL | Glass | Water, Alcohol, Vanilla Extractives | None