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Turbinado sugar is made by separating raw cane sugar crystals in a centrifuge and washing them with steam. It retains its brown color. C&H produces "Washed Raw Sugar,” without passing it through bone char. Brown sugar is basically refined sugar with added molasses. It could have been refined with bone char. Molasses is derived from sugar cane. Beet sugar molasses is too bitter for human consumption. Molasses syrup does not go through any filter, because there is no need to eliminate the brown color. This sweetener may sometimes be nonvegetarian, because the process of making it requires an agent to reduce its foam by adding a small amount of fat to the liquid. This fat is a complex issue. Traditionally, lard has been used. Pork is hung over a tub of maple syrup, and drops of fat fall into the syrup. Milk, cream, butter, or vegetable oil also could have been used for that process. Most maple syrup manufacturers now use vegetable oil or synthetic defoamers instead of lard. But one commercial defoamer, Atmos300K, contains glycerides derived from "edible meat and/or vegetable sources.” Thus, it is difficult to determine whether a particular brand has an animal or vegetable based defoamer. Kosher certified brands, such as Spring Tree or Maple Groves, are unlikely to contain animal products in their defoamers. Holsum Foods, which produces pancake syrup, uses vegetable oil for defoaming. Their products are labeled by food chains such as Dominick's, Supervalue, and Superfine. Conclusion: Turbinado sugar and molasses are the best choices for avoiding himsa in one's sweeteners. You decide; is its use consistent with Ahimsa? SABOODANA (SAGO): A NON-VEGETARIAN FOOD-FOOD FOR THOUGHT? In Tamil Nadu, India, on the road from Salem to Coimbatore there are many saboodana factories. One begins to smell a An Ahimsa Crisis: You Decide
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