Just found out I've been drinking O.J. fortified w/ sheep skin *pukes*

I truly learn something new every day. I've emailed Florida's Natural (the brand I was drinking) http://www.floridasnatural.com/for a confirmation on the following, I will post when (if) they reply.

I've been thinking I've been drinking fortified orange juice as a good calcium source. Turns out it is also fortified with Vitamin D3. What the heck is that?

D-2 (ergocalciferol) is derived from yeast, while D-3 (cholecalciferol) is derived from lanolin (from sheep) or fish. D-2 and D-3 are both used to fortify milk and other dairy products. Some D-3 vitamin supplements are made with fish oil. D-3 can also be produced by plants and fungi, but this isn't as common as using lanolin or fish as a source. " from www.vrg.org/nutshell/faqingredients.htmfor the physiology of d3 (how your body makes vit d and turns it into a hormone) see: www.vitamindcouncil.com/vitami...y.shtml

The commercial production of vitamin D3 is completely dependent on the availability of either 7-dehydrocholesterol or cholesterol. 7-Dehydrocholesterol can be obtained via organic solvent extraction of animal skins (cow, pig or sheep) followed by an extensive purification. Cholesterol typically is extracted from the lanolin of sheep wool and after thorough purification and crystallization can be converted via a laborious chemical synthesis into 7-dehydrocholesterol. It should be appreciated that once chemically pure, crystalline 7-dehydrocholesterol has been obtained, it is impossible to use any chemical or biological tests or procedures to determine the original source (sheep lanolin, pig skin, cow skin, etc.) of the cholesterol or 7-dehydrocholesterol.
http://vitamind.ucr.edu/milk.html

"SOURCES OF VITAMIN D IN ORANGE JUICE

Several VRG members have contacted us asking about the vitamin D which is being added to some brands of orange juice. We contacted Tropicana and Florida’s Natural Growers. Tropicana said, “The form of vitamin D added to Tropicana products is vitamin D3. It is a synthetic powder and is the same form that is added to milk. Our source of vitamin D is not derived from an animal.... The form we use of vitamin D3 is cholecalciferol. It is made synthetically from 7-dehydocholesterol which is also made synthetically. This does not come from an animal source.” We were unable to obtain more information about the starting material of their 7-dehydocholesterol.
Florida’s Natural Growers said, “The vitamin D3 that we use in our calcium added orange juice is synthetically made. However, the starting material used to produce this Vitamin D3 is Lanolin (a type of fat).” Lanolin is obtained from sheep’s wool.
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that is needed for healthy bones. Food sources of vitamin D include breakfast cereals, soymilk, and rice milk that have been fortified with vitamin D. Vitamin D is also produced following sunlight exposure. At least 10-15 minutes of summer sun on hands and face (without sunscreen) two or three times a week is recommended for adults so that vitamin D production can occur. Sunscreen should be used at all other times.
If you cannot spend time outside routinely or if you live in the North in the winter and your diet does not include vitamin D sources regularly, a vitamin D supplement is needed. Current recommendations for vitamin D are 5 micrograms (200 IU) for children and for adults 19 through 50 years old, 10 micrograms (400 IU) for 51- through 70-year-olds, and 15 micrograms (600 IU) for those 71 and older."
http://www.vrg.org/journal/vj2004issue3/vj2004issue3notesscidept.htm