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Oil boom eating up ice cream ingredient

MySanAntonio.com -- A sudden demand for an obscure substance with an odd name — guar gum — has companies whose products range from vanilla ice cream to black gold checking Indian weather reports and their own bottom lines.
Guar is a plant grown mainly in northern India, where its seeds are harvested and developed into a gummy substance that long has been an ingredient in a host of foods, along with cosmetics, drugs, explosives, fire retardant and paper.
But the big bump in demand now stems from guar gum's role in the shale boom. It is a key component in the mix of sand, water and chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing — the process for extracting hydrocarbons from tight formations that has revolutionized oil and gas production.
Halliburton, the world's larg-est provider of hydraulic fracturing services,

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Submitted Jul 05, 2012 By: drpepperTX

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honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,650 Points:1,612,445 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jul 8, 2012 7:19:03 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse I guess some folks could stand to eat less ice cream... maybe even shed a few pounds (or 50 or 100...).
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,650 Points:1,612,445 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2012 9:52:46 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse when will we learn that oil and gas are not edible and we are cutting our food supply with ever turn?
rabbit1976 Rookie Author Richmond Posts:98 Points:112,515 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Jul 6, 2012 7:27:52 PM Ignore rabbit1976 Report Abuse ok
jerej829 Champion Author Memphis Posts:2,866 Points:696,665 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Jul 6, 2012 6:27:42 PM Ignore jerej829 Report Abuse Ok
puinsai808 Champion Author Honolulu Posts:3,559 Points:730,230 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Jul 6, 2012 10:56:24 AM Ignore puinsai808 Report Abuse ok
kyjlh Champion Author Kentucky Posts:1,628 Points:655,205 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: Jul 6, 2012 7:00:09 AM Ignore kyjlh Report Abuse ok
MAC48 Champion Author Dallas Posts:1,551 Points:768,795 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Jul 6, 2012 12:35:27 AM Ignore MAC48 Report Abuse You mean to tell me that there is not an acceptable substitute for gar gum for use in the hydraulic fracturing process. Surely, the citizens of the world would be willing to pay a bit more for a substitute for gar gum rather than give up ice cream.
eblair54 Sophomore Author Missouri Posts:143 Points:437,750 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Jul 6, 2012 12:23:53 AM Ignore eblair54 Report Abuse Wow....so I have to choose between ice cream and gas? Well, I do need to lose weight anyway....
MountedShooter Champion Author Georgia Posts:3,095 Points:744,395 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Jul 6, 2012 12:20:22 AM Ignore MountedShooter Report Abuse Ok.
MidNJ Champion Author New Jersey Posts:7,568 Points:1,174,430 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Jul 6, 2012 12:17:07 AM Ignore MidNJ Report Abuse Make mine Cherry Vanilla (without guar gum) on hot days like these :) [Edited by: MidNJ at 7/6/2012 12:19:09 AM EST]
miiike572 All-Star Author Phoenix Posts:798 Points:528,415 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Jul 6, 2012 12:09:35 AM Ignore miiike572 Report Abuse and we eat it.
bbthegun Champion Author San Diego Posts:5,983 Points:1,683,440 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Jul 6, 2012 12:01:41 AM Ignore bbthegun Report Abuse There's a correlation that most people wouldn't expect.
wayoung56 Champion Author Alabama Posts:2,815 Points:821,260 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 11:58:19 PM Ignore wayoung56 Report Abuse Interesting article...
neemund Champion Author Seattle Posts:6,566 Points:1,548,425 Joined:Jan 2007	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 11:57:49 PM Ignore neemund Report Abuse Thankfully for the people that use it, it's not necessarily a finite resource. Supply may be short for a period of time, but the increased demand will lead to an increase in production. I've never used it when making ice cream, so I'm not sure what it adds to the mix.
danreino Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:8,368 Points:1,543,655 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 11:56:37 PM Ignore danreino Report Abuse Grow it here, or would that be dangerous in an invasive species way ?
Vette1967 Champion Author Albany Posts:5,982 Points:1,278,925 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 11:56:35 PM Ignore Vette1967 Report Abuse Got it.
bvrbill Champion Author Eugene Posts:3,238 Points:521,550 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 11:56:02 PM Ignore bvrbill Report Abuse Someone will find an alternative. Too much money to be made.
whaboush Champion Author Richmond Posts:1,233 Points:733,660 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 11:55:39 PM Ignore whaboush Report Abuse Great - another reason for ice cream prices to jump. As if the heat wasn't enough - :P
WBBNC Veteran Author North Carolina Posts:499 Points:488,640 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 11:52:22 PM Ignore WBBNC Report Abuse How about making ice cream without the ingredient!?
jerej829 Champion Author Memphis Posts:2,866 Points:696,665 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 11:52:00 PM Ignore jerej829 Report Abuse ok
Chillywilly Champion Author Winnipeg Posts:2,097 Points:580,645 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 11:50:48 PM Ignore Chillywilly Report Abuse Hope the demand for guar doesn't gum up the works.
SnickersDog Champion Author Denver Posts:3,298 Points:683,910 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 11:50:40 PM Ignore SnickersDog Report Abuse Can we get half & half oil and ice cream. one in the car the other in a bowl
lesndave Champion Author Texas Posts:3,052 Points:704,080 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 11:47:01 PM Ignore lesndave Report Abuse Well well well
crashintuc34 Champion Author Tucson Posts:4,062 Points:813,840 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 11:45:41 PM Ignore crashintuc34 Report Abuse More ice cream, please.
big_mac64 Champion Author Tennessee Posts:10,593 Points:1,485,690 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 11:45:27 PM Ignore big_mac64 Report Abuse interesting...never knew this
SpankyMI Champion Author Kalamazoo Posts:2,723 Points:762,205 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 11:36:44 PM Ignore SpankyMI Report Abuse Start looking for a substitute.
NedW Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:5,630 Points:1,145,170 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 11:32:42 PM Ignore NedW Report Abuse Ya can't have it all this time, Michelle Obama.
BigBob12345 Champion Author Gasbuddy Posts:1,521 Points:304,730 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 11:32:17 PM Ignore BigBob12345 Report Abuse proficient
Matt G Champion Author Boston Posts:4,548 Points:2,775,965 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 11:29:32 PM Ignore Matt G Report Abuse Money
Focus2 Champion Author Illinois Posts:7,896 Points:1,920,520 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 11:29:05 PM Ignore Focus2 Report Abuse There you go speculators! Jump on that and stop betting on a bad corn crop!
serrog Champion Author Nova Scotia Posts:5,579 Points:1,515,055 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 11:27:50 PM Ignore serrog Report Abuse Tough news to swallow
tippybuddy Champion Author Ontario Posts:1,523 Points:207,740 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 11:26:45 PM Ignore tippybuddy Report Abuse ok
Buddy2264 Champion Author Tampa Posts:11,669 Points:2,362,895 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 11:25:56 PM Ignore Buddy2264 Report Abuse I will be glad when oil is not our primary fuel. But I guess this affects natural gas production.
bonzoonfmb Champion Author Florida Posts:1,792 Points:646,535 Joined:Feb 2010	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 11:25:53 PM Ignore bonzoonfmb Report Abuse Make the drillers use KY instead.
soups5 Veteran Author Victoria Posts:378 Points:571,365 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 11:24:44 PM Ignore soups5 Report Abuse no the icecream costs more cuz gas went up
REVLAW Champion Author San Antonio Posts:10,451 Points:2,009,420 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 11:22:42 PM Ignore REVLAW Report Abuse So, is that why the price of ice cream has gone up?
tman70 Champion Author Georgia Posts:1,770 Points:736,000 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 11:21:33 PM Ignore tman70 Report Abuse Ok
divebomber Champion Author Nebraska Posts:6,093 Points:1,815,200 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 11:19:31 PM Ignore divebomber Report Abuse I DON'T CARE I EAT SHERBET
jdc17327 Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:2,560 Points:198,015 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 11:16:02 PM Ignore jdc17327 Report Abuse okay
cheapgaspleez Champion Author Long Island Posts:14,866 Points:2,775,900 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 11:12:28 PM Ignore cheapgaspleez Report Abuse Hey! Guar gum is an important ingredient in the making of gluten free breads. It gives the dough elasticity in place of the evil wheat gluten, and I have a container in my fridge right now. Leave it to sleazy Halliburton to take food out of peoples mouths in the name of oil.
Holly123 Champion Author Charlotte Posts:3,217 Points:793,135 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 11:12:07 PM Ignore Holly123 Report Abuse Go with homemade. I don't use guar gum.
36IHBinder Champion Author Illinois Posts:2,973 Points:646,015 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 11:10:21 PM Ignore 36IHBinder Report Abuse great now my ice cream will cost twice as much
carranco Champion Author Georgia Posts:1,027 Points:269,765 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 11:09:13 PM Ignore carranco Report Abuse So that's why the ice cream boxes have been shrinking. Bring back the half gallons.
Tiernan Champion Author Chicago Posts:3,495 Points:822,750 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 11:04:31 PM Ignore Tiernan Report Abuse Surprising!
96sc1 Champion Author El Paso Posts:8,517 Points:1,367,440 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 11:03:49 PM Ignore 96sc1 Report Abuse Guar gum is found in both explosives and fire retardant - how ironic
bullfrog69 Champion Author Texas Posts:2,304 Points:836,510 Joined:Nov 2009	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 11:01:59 PM Ignore bullfrog69 Report Abuse Now just wait a fracking minute! My ice cream has no such ingrediants ,mine is all natural!
ExplorerWA Champion Author Washington Posts:4,093 Points:800,075 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 11:01:58 PM Ignore ExplorerWA Report Abuse Just the name Halliburton makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. They are in everything.
nimpy Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:8,150 Points:1,704,030 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 11:00:31 PM Ignore nimpy Report Abuse They will figure out a substitute
TedNC Champion Author North Carolina Posts:1,005 Points:228,900 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 10:59:46 PM Ignore TedNC Report Abuse Guess they better stop fracking so I can have some ice cream.
yonasb Champion Author Houston Posts:3,463 Points:740,625 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Jul 5, 2012 10:59:16 PM Ignore yonasb Report Abuse Ok