Monk fruit syrup has become a popular alternative sweetener in recent years, prized for its natural sweetness and lack of calories or glycemic impact. As more people adopt plant-based diets or look to reduce their sugar intake, interest has grown around whether monk fruit syrups like Birch Benders are vegan and animal-product free. This article will examine the ingredients, manufacturing process, and certifications of Birch Benders monk fruit syrup to determine if it meets vegan standards. We’ll also look at how monk fruit syrup is made, and common questions around whether these sweeteners contain hidden animal products. Read on for a comprehensive look at whether Birch Benders monk fruit syrup can be part of a vegan diet.
About Birch Benders
Birch Benders is a brand of pancake and waffle mixes, syrups, and baking products based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. They specialize in organic, non-GMO, and plant-based products free of artificial ingredients. Birch Benders monk fruit syrup contains just two ingredients: monk fruit extract and water. It is sweetened entirely with monk fruit instead of sugar or other sweeteners.
The company states that all its syrups are vegan, gluten-free, keto-friendly, and made without any artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Birch Benders focuses on selecting recognizable, natural ingredients to appeal to health-conscious consumers. Their monk fruit syrup offers a vegan alternative to more traditional syrups sweetened with sugar or honey.
What is monk fruit?
Monk fruit, also known as luo han guo, is a small melon native to parts of Thailand and China. Monk fruit has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine, but more recently the fruit has been processed into a zero-calorie, high-intensity sweetener.
The sweetness in monk fruit comes from unique antioxidants called mogrosides. When monk fruit is processed into a syrup or extract, the mogrosides are separated from the fresh fruit to concentrate the natural sweetness. Monk fruit sweeteners typically contain very minimal amounts of the actual fruit – they are simply using the natural sweet compounds found in monk fruit.
Since monk fruit sweeteners just isolate the sweet-tasting mogrosides from the fresh fruit itself, the final product is entirely vegan. Monk fruit extract or syrup contains no animal products, dairy, eggs or other ingredients that would make it unsuitable for a vegan diet.
Are there any animal products in monk fruit syrup?
When reading the two ingredients on a bottle of Birch Benders monk fruit syrup – monk fruit extract and water – it is very reasonable to assume the product is 100% vegan. However, some consumers have questioned whether there are any hidden animal products used during processing, such as bone char or other substances that would not be listed explicitly as ingredients.
The main processing methods for monk fruit into sweeteners include hot water extraction, ethanol extraction, and precipitation – none of which introduce any animal-derived ingredients. Here are some key facts about monk fruit syrup processing:
– No binding or filtering agents of animal origin are used. Many cane sugar refineries use bone char from cattle bones to decolorize sugar, but monk fruit extraction does not require this process.
– No dairy, eggs, honey, or other animal products are added during processing. Some food producers add milk or egg proteins to their products as stabilizers, but monk fruit syrups do not require these ingredients.
– Monk fruit sweeteners go through thorough filtration. Any microscopic residues from the fresh fruit are removed, leaving behind only the mogrosides which are the natural sweet compounds in monk fruit.
So while monk fruit syrup labels will not explicitly state “vegan” or “no animal products used”, manufacturers confirm that all processing is done without any animal-derived ingredients, bone char, or other substances that would conflict with vegan diets.
Birch Benders’ stance on animal products
On their website’s FAQ page, Birch Benders directly addresses whether their products are vegan:
“Yes, all Birch Benders products are vegan. We never use any animal derived ingredients in any of our mixes, pancakes or syrups. Our products are dairy free, egg free and vegan.”
Additionally, Birch Benders’ founder Matt LaCasse stated in an interview:
“We want to make food that is as close to how nature intended it to be as possible. That means, for us, no artificial anything: no colors, no flavors, no preservatives. We also use entirely plant-based ingredients – our products are all vegan.”
As a company focused on natural, organic, and plant-based ingredients, Birch Benders is careful to avoid any animal-derived products during their manufacturing process. Their monk fruit syrup contains only monk fruit extract and water.
Certifications
Two certifications help confirm that Birch Benders’ products, including their monk fruit syrup, are vegan:
1. Certified Vegan by Vegan.org – This certification means the product contains no animal products or byproducts, and has not been tested on animals. Vegan.org reviews all ingredients as well as manufacturing practices.
2. Certified Organic by Quality Assurance International (QAI) – For a product to be USDA Organic certified, it must be made without excluded methods like genetic engineering, ionizing radiation or sewage sludge. Animal products cannot be used.
These reputable third-party certifications help provide assurance that Birch Benders monk fruit syrup is free of any animal ingredients or contamination. The company goes through rigorous audits to ensure all their ingredients and practices meet the standards required for vegan and organic certification.
Should Vegans Avoid Monk Fruit Sweeteners?
While monk fruit sweeteners do not contain any animal products and are considered vegan, some vegans still choose to avoid them. Here are some of the arguments around whether vegans should consume monk fruit syrups and extracts:
– Natural vs. Processed – Since the main ingredient is an extract, some vegans view monk fruit sweeteners as an overly processed food. However, minimal processing is used to simply separate the mogrosides from the melon flesh.
– Environmental Impact – Monk fruit needs to be shipped from Asia which contributes to carbon emissions. However, birch-based syrups also impacts the environment despite being more local.
– Appropriation of Asian Foods – Extracting only the desirable elements from a fruit native to Asia and profiting from it commercially could be viewed as cultural appropriation. But monk fruit farming provides economic benefits to Chinese and Thai producers.
– Alternative Sweeteners Available – With options like fruit juices, maple syrup and molasses, vegans may not view monk fruit sweeteners as necessary, though these alternatives are higher in calories.
The reasons for avoiding monk fruit syrups tend to be philosophical rather than any specific animal welfare concerns. Since no animal products are used in Birch Benders monk fruit syrup or other similar brands, they remain compatible with a vegan diet, though individual choice plays a role here.
What do health organizations say about Monk fruit sweeteners?
Several prominent health and vegetarian organizations have stated that monk fruit sweeteners are vegan:
– The Vegetarian Society – “Monk fruit sweetener is vegan”
– Healthline – “Monk fruit sweeteners are 100% natural and vegan”
– Forks over Knives – “Monk fruit extracts do not contain any animal products and are considered vegan”
– PCRM (Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine) – “Monk fruit sweetener is vegan-friendly”
Guidance from major vegetarian and plant-based health authorities confirm that pure monk fruit extract, like that used in Birch Benders syrup, fits into a vegan diet. Since no animal inputs are used in the production process, monk fruit syrups can be part of a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle seeking to avoid animal exploitation.
Could monk fruit syrup be non-vegan?
Virtually all monk fruit syrups and extracts on the market today are vegan, but there are some hypothetical scenarios where they may not be:
– If dairy products were used as carriers – Some liquid sweeteners blend monk fruit extract with milk products like lactose. Birch Benders only contains monk fruit and water.
– Potential bone char filtration – While not typical, some processors could potentially use bone char. Birch Benders states they do not use any animal products.
– If bees were exploited – Monk fruit pollination does require bees. Some vegans avoid almond milk for this reason. Birch Benders likely sources monk fruit concentrate from China where hives are common.
– Animal testing – Unless certified vegan, a company could test for toxicity on animals. Birch Benders is officially certified vegan, meaning no animal testing.
While unlikely, these hypothetical practices could jeopardize the vegan status of some monk fruit products. That’s why third-party certification and transparent sourcing are important for vegan consumers. Birch Benders has taken steps to avoid these concerns.
Conclusion
In summary, Birch Benders monk fruit syrup contains no animal ingredients and is produced without the use of dairy, eggs, bone char, or other animal inputs. The company declares all its products, including monk fruit syrup, to be vegan on its website and packaging. Additionally, Birch Benders carries vegan and organic third-party certifications.
Major health organizations focused on plant-based diets all agree monk fruit sweeteners are suitable for vegans. While there are philosophical arguments around avoiding processed foods and imported ingredients, monk fruit syrup itself does not conflict with the ethical concerns of veganism. For these reasons, Birch Benders monk fruit syrup can be considered vegan. But as with any product, consumers must determine for themselves whether the ingredients, sourcing, and certifications meet their individual standards for avoiding animal use and exploitation.
