Natural flavors have seen increased consumption as consumers search for clean-label products. Thanks to technological advancements in extraction techniques, these flavoring agents are more accessible than ever.
Natural flavors tend to be safe for consumption unless you have specific food allergies or dietary preferences; it’s just important to know what signs to watch out for.
What is a Natural Flavor?
Your favorite soda, ice cream and cookie brands likely contain natural flavors – yet what distinguishes these from artificial ones?
Natural flavors are produced from plant or animal matter and used to enhance a product’s taste without contributing any nutritional benefits. Though they’re labeled “natural”, their original sources can sometimes be controversial; for instance, Raspberry Ketone (4-phenylbutan-2-one) found naturally occurring within raspberries can be extracted and used as an ingredient to add natural flavor.
Natural flavors include essential oils, oleoresins, extractives, distillates, protein hydrolysates and by-products from roasting or enzymolysis processes that contain natural flavors. While they might not seem harmful in themselves, severe allergies or specific dietary preferences should opt out from using these flavors altogether.
How to Know if a Flavor is Natural
Have you ever read through an ingredient list and seen “natural flavor” listed as one of the ingredients? This term can be found in many foods and it can be difficult to distinguish which types contain natural flavors.
For a flavor to qualify as natural, certain criteria must be met. Unfortunately, manufacturers aren’t required to reveal where these ingredients come from; thus it could be possible that something that says “natural vanilla flavor” actually contains dairy – which can pose issues for those with food allergies or special dietary requirements.
If you suffer from food allergies, it’s wise to choose foods made by reliable companies and avoid those containing ingredients listed as natural flavors. Companies should disclose whether their flavors come from allergenic substances like wheat, milk or peanuts so you can evaluate if taking that risk is worth your while; remembering how a real peach tastes infinitely better than any artificial flavor could ever match it!
What are the Differences Between Natural Flavors and Artificial Flavors?
Though “natural” might sound healthier and more wholesome than something artificially produced, their chemical components are quite similar. Natural flavors come from plants or animals while artificial flavors are chemical compounds created in laboratories.
The US FDA defines natural flavors as any essential oil, oleoresin, essence or extractive, protein hydrolysate, distillate or product of roasting, heating or enzymolysis obtained from any vegetable, fruit or microbiological source other than spices such as herbs bark roots buds flowers meat seafood poultry eggs dairy products fermentation products with significant flavoring rather than nutritional attributes.”
An edible source does not guarantee a more natural flavoring; natural flavors could still contain preservatives and solvents which may not be good for you, including propylene glycol, polyglycerol esters of fatty acids, mono- and di-glycerides and benzoic acid.
What are the Advantages of Natural Flavors?
Natural flavors are generally considered safer and healthier than their artificial counterparts, adhering to strict regulations set forth by government agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration to ensure no health risks arise from using these flavors in foods.
Natural flavoring’s main purpose is to enhance food’s taste, not add nutritional value; just because they come from natural sources doesn’t guarantee that their final food product is necessarily more healthy or nutritious.
As part of a healthy diet, it’s best to aim to consume whole fruits, vegetables and minimally-processed foods instead of processed ones containing natural flavors. Be wary of label claims of natural flavor products containing ingredients you wish to avoid such as emulsifiers, solvents, preservatives or carriers; though thankfully there are companies who only use organic or all-natural ingredients in their products.
