Is Natural Flavor a Healthy Ingredient for You and Your Family?
If you want to take control of your health and the health of your family, you must become a Total Food Label Investigator. In the past, many dietitians and nutritionists were recommending patients and clients read the Basic Food Label which detailed the serving size, calories per serving, macronutrients like fat, carbohydrate, protein, dietary fiber, sodium etc. But equally important is looking at the Food Label Ingredient List. Years ago, the ingredient list was simple because our foods were made with real foods but in today’s world, many foods contain lots of food additives which are made from an array of chemicals that could be health destroying if your diet consists mainly of ultra-processed foods!
Ultra-processed Foods. https://daybydayliving.net/?p=3305
To become a Total Food Label Investigator, start by looking at the ingredient list and what actual ingredients are in the foods you eat such as Natural Flavor-Natural Flavoring. Check out FDA’s Definition of Natural Flavor below and buyer beware!
Image from: https://www.istockphoto.com/photos/female-private-investigator
Food Additives. https://foodbabe.com/
FDA’s Definition of Natural Flavor
The terms “natural flavor” and “natural flavoring” are defined by the FDA’s Code of Federal Regulations Title 21. Natural flavor is defined as a(n):
- Essential oil
- Oleoresin
- Essence, or extractive
- Protein hydrolysate
- Distillate
That is produced by:
- Roasting
- Heating
- Enzymolysis (chemical breakdown, such as in fermentation)
Which contains flavor that is originally derived from a:
- Spice
- Fruit or fruit juice
- Vegetable or vegetable juice
- Edible yeast
- Herb, bark, bud, root, leaf, or similar plant material
- Meat
- Seafood
- Poultry
- Eggs
- Dairy products
- Fermentation products of the above
This product must have the primary function of flavoring food rather than providing nutritional value.
Popular Foods and Drinks That Contain Natural Flavor
The following is an incomplete list of popular food and beverage items that frequently contain natural flavor in the ingredient list:
- Sodas
- Sparkling waters
- Energy drinks
- Chips
- Soups
- Candies
- Premade fruit and vegetable juices
- Packaged smoothies
https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-is-natural-flavor-8418766
Are Natural Flavors Safe?
The idea is all natural flavors are must be safe. The Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association of the United States (FEMA) has a program called Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) program, which is supposed to research the safety of natural flavors and other food additives. The FEMA GRAS has researched the safety of thousands of natural flavors but, keep in mind, natural flavoring can be highly processed even though it comes from a natural source and can also have artificial and synthetic chemicals which are used in the processing which can be very misleading. As a result, natural flavors may not be “more healthy.” Some would say this is deceptive advertising.
Natural flavor mixtures can contain more than 100 chemicals, including solvents, emulsifiers, flavor enhancers and preservatives. Sadly, some natural flavors are classified as safe but are made of more than 90% other substances used to enhance the flavor being created.
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/natural-flavors
Not all Natural Flavors are Gluten Free
Most of the natural flavors are gluten free but some can be derived from gluten-containing items like wheat, barley, rye, malt, brewer’s yeast, etc. Look to see if the label has gluten-free symbol if not contact the manufacturer.
Organic Natural Flavor
Organic natural flavor has to comply with the organic certification by the USDA. Must be produced without synthetic solvents, solvent carriers, and artificial preservatives. The organic natural flavor must be comprised of a minimum of 95% organically produced ingredients.
What to Look for on the Ingredient Label for Specifics
If you want a maple food made with maple syrup, look for the actual words, “maple syrup” in the ingredient list or it could say “made with 100% maple syrup.” If you want a product made with the specific fruit or flavored with actual fruit, the ingredient list may say “orange” or the name of the juice (“orange juice”) in the ingredient list.
The Bottom Line
Natural flavors exist to help flavor foods that don’t have much flavor. But natural flavor can be deceiving because it can be highly processed and actually contain artificial flavors. Buyer beware!
https://www.bhg.com/recipes/healthy/eating/what-is-natural-flavor/
is a registered dietitian with a Master’s Degree in clinical nutrition. She is the Chief Blog Organizer for www.DayByDayLiving.net
Barbara worked as a research nutritionist with the military’s tri-service medical school & worked as a performance nutrition consultant to Navy SEALS’ BUD/S Training Program and West Coast Navy SEAL Teams. Barbara is the former nutrition performance consultant to the University of Louisville Athletic Department. She is the author of Fast Facts on Fast Food For Fast People and High Energy Eating Sports Nutrition Workbook for Active People used by the University of Louisville, University of Tennessee Lady Vols and the Tennessee football program, the LSU basketball program, the Buffalo Bills, the Cleveland Browns and by the United States Navy SEALs.
Barbara is the former publisher of Kentuckiana HealthFitness Magazine, Kentuckiana Healthy Woman magazine and radio show host of Health News You Can Use. Barbara has over 60 years of experience in promoting healthy lifestyles to consumers. Barbara is a former runner who walks, a spinner, hiker, a pickleball player, a mother and grandmother to 13 grandchildren.
Barbara also serves on the Leadership Team for Moms for America as the Grammy Grizzlies National Group Leader. (www.momsforamerica.us).
