Natural flavors can be created using ingredients sourced from plants, animals, or microbiological sources – such as essential oils, oleoresins, extractives or protein hydrolysates.
Manufacturers aren’t required to disclose the chemical mixtures that make up natural ingredients, making this an issue for those with severe allergies or specific diet preferences.
Fruits
Natural fruits flavors have long been an integral component of food industry (Allied Market Research, 2021), from candy bars and candies to alcohol beverages and ice creams. Their wide array of offerings ensures that consumers can easily find something they like!
The FDA defines natural flavors as those derived from spices, fruits or fruit juice, vegetables or vegetable juice, edible yeast products, herb bark roots buds flowers seeds as well as plant material in general (or their combination). Natural flavor manufacturers may also add ingredients such as emulsifiers solvents preservatives carriers etc to their mixtures without the need to disclose this on product labels.
IFF’s team strives to replicate the molecular signature of each fruit. To replicate passion fruit’s aroma, for instance, they would need to consume approximately 25% of world supply; as such they look for cheaper sources that contain similar volatiles – these sources include African violet leaf, Benzoin Siam bark and sulfur-containing volatiles from grapefruit among many others.
Herbs
Herbs provide an array of flavors spanning citrus to pineapple and are frequently used as natural flavoring agents. Sourced from their leaves, flowers or seeds; many aromatic volatile oils in herbs – like estragole in tarragon and anethole in fennel/anise/fennel – mimic chemical compounds present in fruit flavourings for an authentic experience.
“Natural flavors” can come from any number of sources – herbs, spices, vegetable or fruit juice/extract/extract powder/extract powder; edible yeast; bark bud flower root leaf from plants etc – however manufacturers aren’t required to disclose the specific components found within their “natural” flavor additives.
As it turns out, many natural flavors don’t even originate naturally – they can be manufactured artificially in laboratories like artificial flavors. Like their artificial counterparts, natural flavors contain chemicals; Amyl acetate can even be extracted from bananas to create its signature banana taste!
Vegetables
Contrasting artificial flavors, which are synthetic chemicals derived from laboratories, natural flavorings come from botanical or animal sources and offer more authentic tastes while adding nutritional benefits to foods.
Food manufacturers do not need to disclose which chemicals make up a “natural flavor,” yet these may include essential oils, oleoresins, essences and extractives, protein hydrolysates, distillates or products of roasting, heating and enzymolysis (this sounds familiar from chemistry class!). They could also contain preservatives, emulsifiers carriers and other chemicals.
Although FDA has approved natural flavors as safe to consume, it’s best to opt for whole food with no artificial flavor enhancers instead. A piece of fruit or vegetable will always taste fresher than processed snacks; you might even find yourself craving natural, unprocessed flavors as soon as you start eating more whole foods!
Spices
Food and beverage manufacturers increasingly prefer natural flavors in their food and beverage products, over artificial ones produced chemically in laboratories. Natural flavors come from extracting fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices for an authentic sensory experience and superior flavor profiles.
“Natural” does not have a set definition in FDA regulations; therefore it can refer to any flavor derived from plant or animal sources without added chemicals. With multiple methods available for extracting natural flavors from plants or animals sources, consumers may worry that natural flavors are less safe than their synthetic counterparts.
As long as you’re managing an allergy or have certain dietary restrictions, there’s really no reason for you to avoid foods containing natural flavorings. Just read through your ingredients list carefully and consult your physician if any questions arise. Norex offers a selection of premium natural flavours that meet all safety and regulatory standards – check them out today.
