Natural flavors are extracted or essences derived from fruits, herbs or other sources sourced naturally and must adhere to stringent regulatory requirements in order to be considered safer alternatives than synthetic additives.
Vanilla flavor gets its distinctive taste from one chemical (vanillin), while orange’s zesty aroma is due to multiple compounds including limonene and cinnamaldehyde; together these chemicals create natural flavors.
Organic
Even though natural flavors seem healthful, they’re actually chemical enhancers with no trace of mineral or vitamin content from their original plant or animal sources. Instead, food chemists extract these flavors using solvents like ethanol or aromatic petroleum-based chemicals.
Organic natural flavors are created by blending ingredients that have been grown and processed under strict organic standards, to produce their final flavor profile.
Health-conscious consumers value clean label products. Furthermore, they promote a greener economy by decreasing synthetic chemical and fertilizer use. Eugenol can be obtained from distilled bananas to mimic ripe fruit in flavor and aroma; citral can be found in lemongrass, citrus and pimento oils to impart zesty fragrance and flavor; cinnamon oil can provide amyl acetate from banana distillation, while almonds may produce benzaldehyde as another popular source.
Allergen-Free
Allergen-free natural fruit flavors are an ideal solution for those living with food allergies. Although the term “natural” may be misleading, natural flavors are regulated by FEMA and must adhere to stringent FDA regulations; however, their original source could contain ingredients which trigger food allergies.
Natural flavors are complex blends that combine many ingredients to achieve their distinctive tastes. For instance, creating the aroma of ripe bananas requires amyl acetate, citral, benzaldehyde and acetaldehyde at high concentrations to achieve their desired result.
Opting for organic natural flavors not only supports sustainable farming practices and ethical production practices, but can also be healthier options for allergy-friendly diets. When making your selection, check for products bearing either the USDA Organic or EU Organic logo to verify they meet these stringent standards.
Gluten-Free
Foods containing gluten — an amino acid found in wheat, barley, rye, and crossbred varieties of these grains — cannot be labeled gluten-free unless all trace of gluten has been eliminated from their finished product by its manufacturer. According to FDA requirements for gluten-free claims on foodstuffs labeled as such – less than 20 parts per million unavoidable gluten is permitted according to valid scientific analytical techniques – so as not to mislead customers and cause them to believe the label states food with claims cannot claim they can actually claim they can claim.
Natural ingredients, like fruit, vegetables and eggs are often gluten-free; however, processed food products such as breadcrumbs may contain hidden gluten sources such as flour. When selecting packaged frozen or canned fruits and vegetables it is wise to check labels closely.
Cook with fresh or dried fruits whenever possible when making food, rather than processed mixes and juices which often contain additional sugar and/or fat. Natural fruit extracts provide sweetness without extra calories while gluten-free distilled alcohol may also be used as an ingredient in natural flavors or caramel color additives as proteins do not vaporize during distillation process.
Vegan
Food manufacturers must disclose the original source of flavoring additives on ingredient lists; however, they’re not required to disclose all of the chemicals involved in their production process. As a result, experts advise selecting whole foods when dining out as this will promote good health.
Vegans looking for tasty natural fruit flavors should consider organic natural fruit flavors as an excellent way to keep their health safe, as these extracts do not contain potentially health-harmful synthetic chemicals and preservatives found in conventional food products. Furthermore, GMO-free crops mean no allergies or other adverse side effects from consuming GMO products are experienced by consumers.
Natural flavor extracts are widely used in the production of dairy, meat and vegetable-based foods as well as sauces, beverages and chocolate products. Furthermore, they play an essential role in producing gourmet flavors.
