Plastic waste converted into vanilla flavour

[FfFfFfFF 58,120]

In the future, your vanilla ice cream may be made from plastic bottles. Scientists have figured out a way to convert plastic waste into vanilla flavoring with genetically engineered bacteria, according to a new study.

Vanillin, the compound that carries most of the smell and taste of vanilla, can be extracted naturally from vanilla beans or made synthetically. About 85% of vanillin is currently made from chemicals taken from fossil fuels, according to The Guardian. 

The researchers mingled their genetically engineered bacteria with terephthalic acid and kept them at 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degree Celsius) for a day, according to The Guardian. About 79% of the terephthalic acid subsequently converted into vanillin. 

"The global plastic waste crisis is now recognized as one of the most pressing environmental issues facing our planet," the authors wrote in the study. About 1 million plastic bottles are sold every minute around the world, and only 14% are recycled, according to The Guardian. Those that are recycled can only be turned into fibers for clothing or carpets. 

Source - https://www.livescience.com/vanilla-flavor-plastic-waste.html

[Helxig 45,343]

I LOVE this news! Break down plastic with bacteria and THEN turn it into vanilla flavouring??? That's a double win!

[Lumiere 5,825]

 

[Esteban 2,300]

Yes !! Selling wastes while making people eat false food ! I love greencapitalism 

 

[Killa 18,822]

Its all ok but i dont neeed it thanks. Vanilla is a Great flavour, real vanilla but even that is overused. We’re too addicted to it, theres other sventa and flavours. Lets get Back to them.

vanillin is usually disgusting. If you buy some vanilla sugar etc its death you’re eating

[tomdsgn 1,916]

[TheSlash 14,539]

Wonderful idea, but why does it have to be vanilla flavor? If I want to eat plastic, I'll eat any fish

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It's actually pretty sad

 

 

[FfFfFfFF 58,120]

For anybody outraged by this, I hope you know that all supermarket food includes equally or even much more synthetic ingredients lmao.

(unless you prepare your own food with plants from your garden, milk from cows you take for yourself ..) 

[Helxig 45,343]

3 hours ago, Esteban said:

Yes !! Selling wastes while making people eat false food ! I love greencapitalism 

 

People have been eating 'false foods' for decades already. You think literally any food you buy from the supermarket is made with natural flavourings? Absolutely not. As the article states the main source of vanillin (used in pretty much every vanilla flavoured thing you've ever eaten) is created from fossil fuels. Isn't this a better alternative than using fossil fuels? And expecting every industry to go back to using only pure ingredients like vanilla beans (which are incredibly expensive) is completely unrealistic in todays financial climate.

Is capitalism the root of all evil? Yes. But at least in this case, if we can't convince big industries to stop using one-use plastics, and can't convince consumers to use more green alternatives, then the best thing our scientists can do is create ways to minimise and hopefully reverse some of the damage that's being done, as it's being done. And thank god they are, because pollution is not slowing down any time soon! At least they are trying to fight this impossible battle, and coming up with some absolutely genius ways of doing it.

How is it a bad thing for scientists to discover ways to break down plastic and also cut back on fossil fuels being used for flavourings? Two evil birds killed with one stone. It's huge progress in the right direction. Everyone needs to stop being so cynical around creative solutions and forward-thinking science, otherwise literally no progress will happen

[Guest]

You'll eat a dirty d**k but won't put your tongue on some vanilla ice cream? 

[dynamite 66,633]

3 minutes ago, Agunimon said:

You'll eat a dirty d**k but won't put your tongue on some vanilla ice cream? 

just because you eat mac and cheese flavoured d1ck doesn't mean the rest of us do Agumon 

[RahrahWitch 6,985]

4 hours ago, FfFfFfFF said:

About 85% of vanillin is currently made from chemicals taken from fossil fuels

This that artificial flavorings that's on everything? 

Tbh I'd rather get vanilla flavor from recycled plastic bottles then fossil fuel chemicals I guess 

[Supersonic 49,376]

4 hours ago, Esteban said:

Yes !! Selling wastes while making people eat false food ! I love greencapitalism 

 

So you like regular capitalism more where people sell you waste and false food without even telling you where the stuff is coming from (such as regular Vanilla flavoring being made from mineral oils, aka the essence of plastic and gasoline) and make no effort to solve a global problem and instead just contribute to it?  

[Helxig 45,343]

3 hours ago, RahrahWitch said:

This that artificial flavorings that's on everything? 

Tbh I'd rather get vanilla flavor from recycled plastic bottles then fossil fuel chemicals I guess 

A lot of flavourings and flavour enhancing ingredients come from weird places, we just aren't told about it

"Vanilla and raspberry flavors might be enhanced by "castoreum," a mixture of the an*l secretions and urine of beavers. It's also found in perfume. The FDA-approved product is categorized under "natural flavoring," so you won't know if you're eating it"

I wouldn't be so concerned about eating this bacteria flavouring if it becomes FDA tested and approved

[littlepotter 76,612]

1 hour ago, Agunimon said:

You'll eat a dirty d**k but won't put your tongue on some vanilla ice cream? 

 the swift clock