Is Castoreum Vegan?
No — from beaver glands.
Contains or is derived from animal products.
Castoreum profile
Castoreum
- Also known as
- Beaver castoreum, Natural castoreum
- Typical source
- Castor sac secretion from beavers (Castor canadensis or fiber)
- Source type
- Animal
- Common function
- Natural flavoring (vanilla or raspberry notes, historically)
- Vegan status
- Not vegan — animal-derived; rarely listed by name on labels
Detailed answer
No. Castoreum is not vegan. It is an secretion from beaver castor sacs, occasionally used as a natural flavoring in niche products.
What is castoreum?
Castoreum is a yellowish secretion from beaver castor sacs, used near the animal's tail. It has a musky, vanilla-like odor and was historically used in perfumery and, in very small amounts, as a natural flavoring. It is an animal product and not vegan.
How common is castoreum in food?
Internet warnings exaggerate how often castoreum appears in vanilla flavoring. FDA allows it as a natural flavor, but industry use is limited and costly. On most labels it would appear only under the umbrella term 'natural flavors,' not as 'castoreum.' Vegans concerned about animal-derived natural flavors should prefer certified vegan products or contact manufacturers.
Practical label advice
- Castoreum is not required to be named on most food labels
- Vegan-certified products exclude castoreum and other animal natural flavors
- Plain vanilla extract from vanilla beans is plant-based
Frequently asked questions
- Is castoreum in vanilla ice cream?
- Very unlikely in mass-market products today. Real vanilla extract or synthetic vanillin is far more common.
- Does 'natural flavors' mean castoreum?
- Not usually. Natural flavors can be many things; castoreum is one rare animal option among mostly plant and synthetic sources.
- Is castoreum vegetarian?
- No. It is derived from beavers.
Evidence
Last verified August 2026
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Checked by Is This Vegan? · August 2026