Pure Vanilla Extract the Only Choice for Edensoy® despite a 500% Price Increase

15 March 2004

Clinton, Michigan - Eden Foods is facing a five fold cost increase in Pure Vanilla Extract, an ingredient in Vanilla Edensoy soymilk, on April 5th. Eden has determined that there is no acceptable substitute, and Edensoy will remain the only soymilk in this hemisphere that uses only Pure Vanilla Extract.

Madagascar (an island off Africa's southeast coast) produces about 70 percent of the world's vanilla crop (followed by Indonesia, Mexico and Tahiti). Several recent events in Madagascar have prompted vanilla's global price spike. In 1994 the nation's vanilla reserves were rapidly sold out when the International Monetary Fund required Madagascar to abandon price controls restricting the amount of vanilla its farmers could sell to buyers. In spring 2000 a massive cyclone ripped through the island destroying an estimated 25 percent of the nation's vanilla crop and more than 100 tons of inventory waiting for export. Continuing storms and cold weather contributed to Madagascar's worst vanilla crop ever in 2003. The situation has been aggravated by the country's six-month civil war and continued social upheaval.

Pure Vanilla Extract is made from ripe vanilla beans containing over 250 organic components including glycosides, which are transformed by the essential curing process into 'natural vanillin' and glucose, creating pure vanilla's unique flavor and aroma.

Vanilla (Vanilla planifolia) is the only fruit bearing member of the orchid family. Vanilla orchids must be hand pollinated. The pods are hand harvested and cured for at least six months. The cured beans are then chopped and percolated with ethyl alcohol and water for at least 48 hours, after which the vanilla extract is allowed to age for several days, weeks, or months depending upon the manufacturer. The FDA strictly regulates the manufacturing of pure vanilla extract mandating that there be no less than 13.35 ounces of vanilla beans per gallon of a minimum 35% alcohol to 65% water. Commonly the alcohol content is higher for greater extraction of vanilla.

How the real thing compares with all of the imitations:

Pure Vanilla Extract is labor intensive and costly and the best will be aged for almost two years to complete extraction and stabilize flavor. Quality vanilla extract tastes clean, smooth, naturally sweet, and has a very pleasant aroma. Comparing vanilla extracts is similar to comparing whiskey. Quality varies drastically much like low end Scotch versus a top shelf, properly aged product.

Natural Vanilla Flavor is an extract of many things using animal glycerin or propylene glycol (used in antifreeze) and a googol of synthetic and/or toxic chemicals.

Natural Vanilla Flavor with Other Natural Flavors (WONF) is a blend of a small amount of pure vanilla extract and flavor ingredients in a wide variety of chemical carriers. Eden has never received full disclosure from any manufacturer as to all the synthetic and/or toxic ingredients in our attempts to learn their composition. They are allowed to keep it secret saying it's proprietary information.

Artificial Vanilla, Vanillin, and Imitation Vanilla have history since 1870. They are chemicals, not food. Names for Artificial, Synthetic, and Imitation Vanilla include: • Natural Vanilla Flavor Natural • Vanilla Flavor with Other Flavors • Natural Vanilla Flavor with Other Natural Flavors • Vanilla or Vanillin Flavor • Natural/Synthetic Blend Vanilla • Vanillin & Ethyl Vanillin • Imitation Vanilla • Coumarin • Vanilla Powder • Vanilla Oleoresin • Clear Imitation Vanilla Extract • Crystal Vanilla • White Vanilla • Dark Vanilla. Other Chemical Names for Vanillin are: • Bensaadehyde, 3-Ethoxy-4-Hydroxy • Bourbonal • Ethavan • Ethovan • 3-Ethoyx-4-Hydroxy-benzalhehyde • Ethyprotal • Ethyl Vanillin • 4-Hydroxy-3-Ethoxybenzalhehyde • Protocatechuic Aldehyde Ethyl Ether • Quantrovanil • Vanillal • Vanillin, Ethyl • Vanirom •.

Eden is firmly convinced that the only acceptable, non toxic vanilla is Pure Vanilla Extract. "Far better Taste and Quality is why we will not change our ingredient," says Eden Chairman and C.E.O., Michael Potter.