In the past few decades, ingredient lists on basic grocery items have gotten longer. Products that used to feel straightforward now come with additives most people did not expect or ask for.
Unless you turn the bottle around and read every line, it is easy to miss what manufacturers slipped in. And when you do notice it, you may ask yourself some questions. Do we really need to understand scientific terminology to feel comfortable buying pantry staples? Or to trust that something as basic as vanilla extract won’t come with surprises?
That sense of unease is what pushed one Walmart shopper to eliminate a product she had bought for years. After checking the ingredient list on Great Value artificial vanilla extract, she decided she couldn’t justify purchasing it anymore.
What Did She Find in the Ingredients?
TikTok creator Maggie (@chronicpaincatholic) shared her frustration in a short video after realizing the vanilla extract she regularly used contained ingredients she didn’t expect. The clip has pulled in more than 16,000 views, with viewers weighing in almost immediately.
“Can you explain something to me? ‘Cause I don’t understand it,” she says, before holding up the bottle. Maggie explains that she has used Great Value artificial vanilla extract for years, but only recently noticed what was inside.
“For no reason whatsoever, it’s got food coloring in it,” she reveals.
What bothers her isn’t just the presence of color additives, but which ones. “Not just any food coloring, but the bad food coloring,” she says, naming Sunset Yellow and Brilliant Blue.
She also points to tartrazine, saying, “If you didn’t know, [tartrazine] is crushed beetle shell and it is carcinogenic.”
She concludes by stating her decision. “They ruined it,” she says. “Now I can’t buy this anymore.”
On the back of the bottle, the ingredient list reads: water, alcohol, propylene glycol, artificial flavour, tartrazine, amaranth, Sunset Yellow FCF, and Brilliant Blue FCF. The label also notes that the product was made for Canada.
How Harmful Are These Ingredients?
Tartrazine, also known as Yellow No. 5, is not derived from crushed beetle shells. It’s a synthetic dye made from petroleum. That said, it remains controversial.
Several studies have examined its potential health effects. Some animal studies found that tartrazine exposure led to tumor development in rats, including breast cancer, which is why it continues to raise concern among consumers. In the United States and Canada, tartrazine is approved for use in food, but it’s regulated. In parts of the European Union, its use comes with stricter rules, including warning labels and limits on which foods manufacturers may use it in.
Sunset Yellow FCF and Brilliant Blue FCF are also controversial. Research has suggested that these dyes may have cytotoxic and genotoxic potential, meaning they can damage cells or genetic material under certain conditions. Scientists often stress that dosage matters, but the studies have been enough to make many shoppers uneasy, especially when the dyes appear in products where they don’t seem necessary.
Commenters Are Split
In the comments section, viewers couldn’t agree on whether the ingredient list was a real problem or just the reality of buying artificial products.
One person wrote, “It makes it look more like ‘real’ vanilla. Just like when you buy margarine in Quebec, where they have a ‘no added colour to margarine’ law to protect dairy farmers. Even though everyone knows that margarine is dyed to get that shade of yellow, it’s still a little off-putting to see a tub or stick of margarine the color of lard.”
Another commenter said, “It’s ARTIFICIAL!!!!!!! Why would you choose ARTIFICIAL?!!”
@chronicpaincatholic Do better #walmart #fyp #food #healthcare #wellness ♬ original sound – chronicpaincatholic
Someone else jumped in with, “STOP questioning why she is purchasing artificial vanilla extract. The question should be WHY are they producing a product with chemicals that are DANGEROUS for humans and selling it to consumers!”
And one viewer offered an alternative: “Make your own! Vanilla sticks in a cheap bottle of Vodka…and only gets better with age.”
The Mary Sue has reached out to Walmart Canada via email for comment on the ingredients used in the Great Value artificial vanilla extract. We’ve also contacted Maggie through Instagram messages.
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