Vanilla

[luckyacorn]

I read through some of the posts and think that I read that Vanilla is not safe. Is there a safe alternative? In the past, I've tried regular vanilla and McCormicks immitation vanilla, and I think he reacted to both.

[charlie]

I have made a few puddings using a vanilla pod to flavour the milk which we get at our local supermarket but the flavour is very sweet and megs hasn't been great since trying puddings so not sure if it is safe, you only soak the pod in the milk then remove it so I can't see how it can be that bad but at the moment will steer clear. all essences are sugar based liquids here so not safe.

[meaniejean]

We have had very good results with McCormick CLEAR Imitation Vanilla. We don't do well with caramel color, which is in almost all imitation vanilla products.

[mazian]

Our dietician is very wary of vanilla and told us to stay well away from it. Apparently they are not sure how much fructose is in it. I feel very paranoid now, but know that it is wonderful to have a well little girl even if I am paranoid on what I am feeding her.

[Amy in Oz]

Hi,

you can make your own vanilla essence with vodka (or brandy but I'm not sure how that goes with fructose content. I'm pretty sure vodka is ok)

1 vanilla bean split down the middle (but not cut all the way through or you will lose lots of seeds) to every 1/2 cup of vodka.

Place desired amount of vodka in a jar/bottle.
Put the beans into the bottle, ensuring the beans are covered with alcohol.
Seal the bottle tightly.
Let it stand in a cool, dark place to steep for at least 2 months (but the longer, the better. I've heard 1-2 years gives great flavour). Shake the bottle occasionally.

To use, strain liquid into another glass container so the pods and seeds filtered out. The beans can be used again, but will eventually exhaust the flavour at some point.

Amy

[colormist]

I found some mapleine at an Amish store that I use instead of Vanilla. Tastes just as yummy without bad side effects.

[squally]

My son has fructose malabsorption but he has done really well with a product from Cook's called pure vanilla powder... The ingredients are: Vanilla bean extractives in a dextrose base. Yummy and usable for lots of things. You use equal amount in substitution for the regular vanilla. The great thing about it in powder form you can use it on other things as well!

[anastazya]

I can not have Vanilla, there is fructose in it. And I tried making my own with a vanilla bean and lactose free milk. I did react to vanilla, but everyone is different.

[Debra]

There is a new brand of vanilla called Singing Dog...It states that it is gluten free and sugar free and specifies on the back label that it does not contain fructose. www.singingdogvanilla.com. This is what I have started using recently.

[Bradley]

My vanilla lists propylene glycol as an ingredient? Is this a sugar alcohol? Or nothing I should worry about anyone know?

[charlie]

The problem with things like vanilla and food colourings are more the base they are in that is the problem, they are usually sugar alcohol based, if you are using a couple of drops you should be ok unless you are really sensative, if you have FM then any -ol is off the list.. If you have access to vanilla pods and use those it is better.

[ukbill]

Vodka and Brandy are very much off the list if you are HFI.

If you are to make your own vanilla essence try to source pure ethanol from a chemist.

As HFi I find I can tolerate a little vanilla. I boil the pods in milk first then use the vanilla flavoured milk in puddings.

The biggest problem here is that most vanilla pods are soaked in sugar solution or molasses (to keep them moist!) before being sold!

I sourced some pure un-contaminated Vanilla pods form Ebay and although they did not keep as long as the "sugared" variety I was very happy with them and had no detectable reactions to them.

Hope this helps.

PS Happy new year to all!

[tikitavi]

I thought vodka was OK? Can you explain more why vodka is not OK?

[ukbill]

Most Vodka's that are for sale have added sugar (certainly in the UK).

As do Rum's, Brandy and most American whisky type drinks.

Southern Comfort has about 135g sugar per litre!

Home brewed vodka (as available in the Czech Republic) is usually good if they have not added any sugar to "smooth" the drink.

Pure distilled spirit (suitably watered down as 95% pure alcohol will make you blind!) is fine and assuming the brew was clean should not be contaminated with methanol or sugars.

I would put (if I had pure alcohol available) the un-sweetened vanilla pods in a jar and fill the jar with pure alcohol and tightly seal.

After a few days I would decant the alcohol which should be dark brown from the vanilla and water it down to about 50% (with soft water from a water softener is ideal) this can then be stored until its needed.

This method should provide vanilla flavour with the minimum of sugar.

I do not know if sugar is taken up by pure alcohol? When I can get some I will check.


I have found some unsweetened vanilla pods for sale on ebay before and I did not get a reaction to anything I made with them included.

I had to look hard though to find them most are covered in molasses.

[tikitavi]

Interesting, thanks UKBill. I have been drinking Belvedere vodka from Poland, it is the only alcohol that doesn't seem to cause any bad effects for me. I will email them to confirm that they do not add sugar. According to their website, they are additive-free, just pure 4x distilled alcohol from rye and artesian water.

[tikitavi]

I just got an email back from Belvedere Vodka, they said:

"All Belvedere Vodkas are sugar, fructose and additive free. Belvedere prides itself on being sugar, gluten and additive-free for a taste that's Naturally Smooth™"

So that's good to know! It's expensive, but it's been the only one that I can have safely.

[ukbill]

Sounds good!

I will have to look out for it and try a bottle Purely for research you understand..

[tikitavi]

Haha, for the sake of science! :-)

I am intrigued by the Mapleine that Colormist mentioned. Has anyone else tried it? I found it on Walmart.com with a list of ingredients:

www.walmart.com/ip/Specialty-Herbs-Spices-Imitation-Maple-Mapleine-2-oz/10309020
Water, Caramel Color, Natural Flavorings, Alcohol (7%), Phosphoric Acid, Vanillin, And Sulfiting Agents

[colormist]

My vote is out on caramel color. Sometimes I swear it's causing a reaction. Of course the one time I used my mapleine was in a custard pie. It might have been the eggs that were causing my nausea.

You also have to watch out for "Natural Flavorings". I still don't understand how they get away with using that word.

The Mapleine that I found was at an Amish goods store. I'm not sure if it had different ingredients or not. It was teeny, tiny. Like the size of a model paint jar.

I do know that Tammy has found Mapleine in the spice section of a grocery store. I'm not sure which one. For some odd reason, I think it was McCormick brand.

[ukbill]

Natural flavourings is usually a cover word for Fructose!

Perhaps that's where your reaction is coming from?