How Natural Are Natural Flavors?

As a rule I have been able to cook only foods from scratch. You might not think you have time to cook and it is easier to buy some prepared food but it is not as time consuming as you think. Watch the 30 Minute meals by Rachel Ray and you will see.
The mysteries you are buying anytime you buy something in a package are simply scary. First off there is a laundry list of chemicals and most of us have no idea what they are. Second, high fructose corn syrup is pervasive in almost all packaged foods. Then there are the “Natural Flavorings”.


So, exactly how “Natural” are these flavorings. Well they are the same mystery as the chemicals listed on the package. They only need to be the essence of a real food but they are mixed and formulated in a lab and essentially only simulate a real flavor.

The exact definition of natural flavorings & flavors from Title 21, Section 101, part 22 of the Code of Federal Regulations is as follows:

"The term natural flavor or natural flavoring means the essential oil, oleoresin, essence or extractive, protein hydrolysate, distillate, or any product of roasting, heating or enzymolysis, which contains the flavoring constituents 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, or fermentation products thereof, whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional."

In other words, natural flavors can be pretty much anything approved for use in food

Do you know what is in a box of instant pudding? Do you want to know? If you make it from scratch you need: Milk, Sugar, Cornstarch, Salt, Vanilla Extract, Butter. No Chemicals and no mysteries. And you can make it in about 20 minutes. Now do you want to feed your precious children mysterious substances or something you can identify and control?

You say you don’t have time to cook from scratch? I say you are not making time to cook from scratch. Your priorities have not lined up with healthy eating.

Do you know what causes cancer? Likely not. Can we say that all the chemicals, “Natural Flavorings”. High Fructose corn syrup, pesticides and preservatives cause cancer? Well no one knows, but why chance it. Home made food is not only better, it TASTES better and you get to control exactly what goes in it.

To Read More Check out Phil Lempert, The Super Market Guru – He writes great articles on food and healthy eating. His “Natural Flavoring” article is a little more comprehensive than mine. Ckick Here To See Phil’s Article