I just learned over the weekend, from a pastry chef, that artificial flavourings are actually by-products of pulp and paper mills! I had no idea, and when I heard this, it totally freaked me out! Has anyone heard this before?!
I'm now using pure extracts. Sure, they're expensive, but they taste so much better and they're safe to ingest.
I also know too that colourings are not any better... I once made a cake for a person allergic to artifical dyes, so in order to get certain colours I resorted to using vegetables (beet juice for example). I'm really trying to find healthier alternatives to the 'quick' ones...
Yes, this is true, especially with artificial vanilla. This fact has been made public for as long as it was discovered, yet people choose to ignore it. This is why I do not purchase cookies from the supermarket. It has a distinct aroma and flavor, like metal. This is extracted from VC2 Product Reports:
"In the 1950s chemists discovered methods for oxidizing lignin, a waste product of the wood pulp industry, to make vanillin (artificial vanilla). This synthetic vanillin is identical to natural vanillin in all respects save one lignin-derived vanillin is cheaper."
Theresa 
Thanks for the info! I had NO idea. I had never heard of such a thing and have used it all my life. Guess I'm still living, but that is kind of a scary thought to know you're ingesting such a thing. Of course, we would probably all get sick if we knew what all we ingested when eating foods prepared by others. Another good reason to pray over the food we eat!! 
Probably explains many of the allergies out there with kids these days. My nephew has sensitivities to artificial flavour and color, so I am also trying to use pure were possible.
cmcgarr- I would be interested in what you used and how to avoid vegetable taste? I have consider using vegetables before, just worried about taste.
I to have used it all my life. Guess it's off to the grocery store. Thanks
I save my craft store coupons and use them to buy the Wilton Madegascar Vanilla. At 40% off, it's not that expensive.
The best pure vanilla I have found that you can buy in the store is Watkins! I love it! It is double strength (madagaskar bourbon I think) and smells and tastes great! I can definitely tell a difference in my icing when I use it. I was so excited when I found they sell it at Walmart. It is a bit more expensive but totally worth it.
Heather
I visit my local food co-op/health food store and buy their extracts and flavorings which are real and natural. They are more expensive but taste alone is worth it, to say nothing of the health issues
hmmm...a friend made some homemade vanilla for me a couple of years ago for Christmas...maybe I need to get her recipe. I know it was Vodka and vanilla beans.... 
I've had a recipe for homemade vanilla, but have yet to try it. If anyone is interested, here it is...
use 2-4 vanilla beans (more you use, the stronger the taste)
Split vanilla beans vertically without cutting all the way thru, capture seeds on waxed paper. Place beans and seeds in a 6oz baby food jar (works best). Chop beans in half so they fit. add about 3/4 cup of vodka. (vanilla extract is mostly alcohol). Let age in a dark place for at least 2 weeks. Shake it every few days. The longer it sits, the stronger the flavor. As you use it, top it with more vodka. It won't be as dark as store bought and you should replace the beans every 6 months.
If anyone has done this or tries it, let us know how it turns out.
I've had a recipe for homemade vanilla, but have yet to try it. If anyone is interested, here it is...
use 2-4 vanilla beans (more you use, the stronger the taste)
Split vanilla beans vertically without cutting all the way thru, capture seeds on waxed paper. Place beans and seeds in a 6oz baby food jar (works best). Chop beans in half so they fit. add about 3/4 cup of vodka. (vanilla extract is mostly alcohol). Let age in a dark place for at least 2 weeks. Shake it every few days. The longer it sits, the stronger the flavor. As you use it, top it with more vodka. It won't be as dark as store bought and you should replace the beans every 6 months.
If anyone has done this or tries it, let us know how it turns out.
Thanks! That sounds cool. I think I'll give it a try
Lazy_Susan
WOW, I didn't know that either kinda scarey.
HeatherMari, Watkins is what I use in all my baking. I love it and all out extracts. It is funny cuz when I do a show I let ppl smell the Watkins vanilla, then the store one. Watkins even just smells so much better. Also, a favorite of alot of ppl is the Almond extract when I use it instead of the Vanilla in my frosting.
I've had a recipe for homemade vanilla, but have yet to try it. If anyone is interested, here it is...
use 2-4 vanilla beans (more you use, the stronger the taste)
Split vanilla beans vertically without cutting all the way thru, capture seeds on waxed paper. Place beans and seeds in a 6oz baby food jar (works best). Chop beans in half so they fit. add about 3/4 cup of vodka. (vanilla extract is mostly alcohol). Let age in a dark place for at least 2 weeks. Shake it every few days. The longer it sits, the stronger the flavor. As you use it, top it with more vodka. It won't be as dark as store bought and you should replace the beans every 6 months.
If anyone has done this or tries it, let us know how it turns out.
That sounds exactly like the recipe that she used! It worked fine for me...I think I'll try to make some myself.
I was brought up on Watkins products and was so glad that Walmart started selling it 
Back in my day, Watkins Representatives use to go from house to house selling Watkins Products 
.
Boy, I can still here all of the neighborhood kids hollowing; "Here comes the Watkins Man!!!!!", you could hear us all over the neighborhood 
.
Thanks for the info on the vanilla flavoring 
I saw about a month or so ago an episode of "Good eats" it was all about vanilla & yes he said that the artificail stuff was made from wood.. I was soo surprised I had no idea. There was alot of good info on that one episode If I ever catch it again I will tape it for sure!!!
I bought some flavoring at BIG LOTS and it is pure and was very cheap--I mostly buy the almond. I buy the big container of Tone's vanilla at Sams--will check for pure in the future.
'course I also drink coke, so I amsure my body is a mess inside! I am trying to be better. 
I've had a recipe for homemade vanilla, but have yet to try it. If anyone is interested, here it is...
use 2-4 vanilla beans (more you use, the stronger the taste)
Split vanilla beans vertically without cutting all the way thru, capture seeds on waxed paper. Place beans and seeds in a 6oz baby food jar (works best). Chop beans in half so they fit. add about 3/4 cup of vodka. (vanilla extract is mostly alcohol). Let age in a dark place for at least 2 weeks. Shake it every few days. The longer it sits, the stronger the flavor. As you use it, top it with more vodka. It won't be as dark as store bought and you should replace the beans every 6 months.
If anyone has done this or tries it, let us know how it turns out.
Does it give a vodka taste or smell? Can you use another liquor with a high alcohol content? And what would you use for almond, lemon, etc?
Don't worry too much about it because every product that contains vanellin is also paper products... Look at your Hershey bar ingredients and ice cream cone... It's a long known food additive.
Just think of it as you learn something new every day. As for the Watkin's, yes, that brand overall is the best brand I've ever discovered. Not just for vanilla but other flavorings as well. It doesn't leave the nasty alcohol aftertaste.
We all use luster dust which has not been ok'd by the food and drug administration for consumption. It is not toxic and it won't hurt people.
Artificial flavors have been ok'd by the food and drug administration.
Do any of you smoke? That does a lot more damage than a teaspoon of flavoring in a lb of icing.
Prepackaged foods with all of their preservatives... I could go on and on...
My personal opinion, I don't think it is a big deal. Most of the food we consume has artificial flavoring.
Vicky...
I haven't tried the recipe yet, but I know commercial vanilla is mostly all alcohol. I'm sure the vodka taste will have mellowed by the time 2 weeks have past. I know you can use brandy in place of the vodka.
As for the other flavors, it might be fun to experiment! Maybe lemon rinds would work?
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