As a longtime vegetarian, I’m always closely inspecting ingredient lists to make sure they align with my diet. Recently I noticed beef extract popping up in more and more foods and seasonings My vegetarian spidey senses started tingling. Is beef extract off-limits for us plant-based eaters? I had to get to the bottom of this tricky ingredient
First, what even is beef extract? Simply put it’s a concentrated meat stock made by boiling down beef bones and connective tissue. The resulting liquid is processed into a paste or powder packed with beefy flavor. It’s commonly used to add flavor to soups gravies, and other foods. Definitely doesn’t sound very vegetarian-friendly based on the name alone!
But it turns out not all beef extract is made from meat. Some products use yeast extract or mushroom extract instead and simply label it “beef extract” for marketing purposes. Tricky indeed!
As a vegetarian, here are my thoughts on navigating this murky ingredient:
Should Vegetarians Avoid All Beef Extract?
The veg-friendly brands say their “beef extract” contains no actual beef. But without clear labeling, there’s no way to know which products really use meat. Personally, I avoid anything with beef extract on the ingredient list just to be safe. If in doubt, I pass it up.
Check Labels for “Suitable for Vegetarians”
Some brands that use non-meat extracts will include a “suitable for vegetarians” label. This gives me confidence that the product is vegetarian-approved. But not all brands do this, so I ultimately err on the side of caution.
Contact the Manufacturer If Unsure
If I really want to use a certain product with beef extract, I’ll email the manufacturer and ask point blank if it’s derived from meat or mushrooms/yeast. Most are happy to provide more details on their ingredients’ origins.
Watch Out for Hidden Beef Extract
Some foods sneakily contain beef extract without listing it on the label. “Natural flavors” and certain seasonings may contain undisclosed beef extract. Shady! Checking with the brand is the only way to know for sure.
Consider Alternatives
Instead of relying on beef extract for flavor, I use vegetable broths, yeast extract, onion soup mix, or soy sauce. The taste isn’t exactly the same, but these alternatives get the job done.
Make Your Own Broths
When a recipe calls for beef broth, I substitute with a homemade vegetarian broth. It’s easier than ever to make hearty veggie, mushroom, or kombu broths at home. This way I control the ingredients.
Seek Out Vegan Replacements
As plant-based eating grows more popular, there are now tons of vegan beef flavorings made without any meat products. Brands like Maggi, Massel, and Edward & Sons make reliable vegan beef bouillon cubes and gravy mixes.
While beef extract can be a tricky ingredient, with careful label reading and brand research, vegetarians can steer clear of beef-derived products. We may have to get creative with substitutions sometimes, but there are plenty of plant-powered ways to pump up flavor without the meat!
Share All sharing options for: What Exactly Is ‘Natural Beef Flavor’?
The American flavor industry is expected to earn an estimated $15.1 billion annually by 2020, an unsurprising number given that at this point, almost all processed foods (and many non-processed foods) include flavor additives. But the term “flavor additives” is deliberately vague. Companies are not required to disclose the ingredients of flavor additives if all components are considered generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) — and most manufacturers decline to get into specifics. If you think of flavorings as the proverbial secret sauce, it makes sense: You would be handing competitors the keys to the tasty kingdom.
Food manufacturers get a little help from the FDA in regards to secrecy. Companies are legally required to list all of a food’s ingredients on its nutrition label, except for the flavoring. The FDA and the food industry say that flavors are not ingredients, so they are not listed. That’s why nutrition labels (or fast food menus) list 45 ingredients that are impossible to say and then end with the phrase “natural flavors,” which sounds like it doesn’t mean much. Each flavor has dozens of different parts, so it’s not only not possible to list them all, it would probably make things more confusing for customers. Only possible allergens (like milk or nuts) need to be identified.
But what exactly is “natural flavor”? To find out, Eater looked at natural beef flavor, which is an ingredient that shows up on a lot of fast food menus.
What is “natural beef flavor”?
Gary Reineccius, a flavor researcher and food chemist, says that “natural beef flavoring” isn’t always made from beef. “A long time ago, the food industry looked at the price of beef and said, ‘If we want to put that in ramen noodles or gravy, we can’t debone it and throw it away; it’s too expensive.'” “So they needed to find a way to make the flavors that didnt start with meat products. “.
According to Reineccius, “the flavor in beef is created during the cooking process. Scientists found the amino acids in beef, mixed them with starch hydrolysate, put them in a pot, added citric acid to lower the pH, controlled the amount of water in the mixture, and heated it until it was the same temperature as meat. Then. *poof* we have meat flavor. ” As a result, that “natural beef flavor” may actually be vegetarian. Once scientists break down a flavor into its basic chemical parts, they can put it back together again and combine flavors from different foods to make a “meaty” one without the beef.
All of that food chemistry disappears under the umbrella term “natural flavors.” Assuming, that is, that the components really are just for taste. In 1990, the FDA got a little more specific, releasing its list of Ingredients That May Be Designated as Natural Flavors, Natural Flavorings, Flavors, or Flavorings When Used in Meat or Poultry Products. In regards to “natural flavors” appearing in meat products, the FDA decided:
For meat products, the items above are considered ingredients and must be labeled outside the “natural beef flavor” designation; same with items like “beef broth” and “meat extract.” (In a famous case of additives-as-ingredients in meat products, Taco Bells taco meat came under scrutiny back in 2011 when diners noticed a laundry list of additives on its labels.) So, sometimes (on a meat/poultry label) the company needs to tell you whether their product includes beef flavoring. Sometimes they dont, and the “natural flavor” designation is enough: Meat products are not considered an allergen that must be labeled, unlike soy, wheat, and nuts. Unless the company specifies the components on the label, theres no real way of knowing the source of the flavor short of calling headquarters.
BEEF EXTRACT Recipe for the INFIRM — 1800s Meat Juice Extractor Antique Gadget Test | HARD TIMES
FAQ
Does beef extract contain meat?
Is beef flavoring vegetarian?
Is beef flavored ramen vegetarian?
Does artificial beef flavour contain beef?
Can meat extract be used in vegetarian cooking?
Meat extract can be used in vegetarian cooking to add a meaty umami flavor to dishes, providing a similar taste experience to using actual meat. **Is meat extract the same as bouillon cubes or granules?**
What is meat extract?
Meat extract is a concentrated form of meat stock, usually in a semi-solid or powdered form. It is made by evaporating the water content from the meat until it becomes a thick paste. This process helps to preserve the meat and extend its shelf life.
Can meat extract be used in cooking?
Meat extract can be used in a wide range of dishes, including beef stews, chicken soups, and mushroom sauces, to name a few. **Can meat extract be used in baking?**
What is beef extract?
Nutrients. 2018 Nov; 10 (11): 1740. Beef extract (BE) is a nutritional supplement obtained by cooking beef meat. Compared with traditional chicken essence or clam extract, BE is cheaper to produce and may be used for wound healing, as a chemotherapy supplement, or to prevent fatigue.