Hazards Associated with Vanilla Beans

Hi.

I will be adding vanilla beans as one of our new ingredients, may I ask if someone knows any hazards associated with dried vanilla beans?

Thank you.

Hi C,

Do they undergo any treatments/processes before you receive them or does that happen at your facility?

Are you using the whole pod or just the seeds?  If it's just the seeds then the pod would be considered a physical hazard perhaps......it wouldn't make anyone ill, but could be a choking hazard

this link should be of some help

http://www.tis-gdv.d...lle/vanille.htm

And there may be Food Fraud issues if you are claiming a particular source.

part of the vanilla bean curing process is blanching.  however, this is usually done in areas where little consideration for food safety.  the susequent drying process is very labor intensive.   I would say there is a pathogen risk.  I would look into treated bean if the product does not go through a kill step at your facility.  

i have seen whole vanilla beans with small nails stuck into them increase weight.  

are you using whole beans, seeds, spent beans / seeds from extraction?