We spend a lot of time food label reading around here, and I suspect that you all do, too! So I wanted to take a moment to discuss “natural flavors,” which are included in many (perhaps most!) packaged foods and beverages.
Natural Versus Artificial Flavors
Chemists make artificial flavors by creating a flavor from synthetic sources. Natural flavors, on the other hand, are oils, resins, or extracts derived from natural sources.
Both natural and artificial flavors may contain emulsifiers, solvents, and preservatives that the manufacturer does not have to disclose on the label. These might be a natural solvent like ethanol butals or they might be synthetic, like propylene glycol. And yes, these additives can be found even in natural flavors!
Should We Avoid Natural Flavors?
The healthiest foods will contain neither artificial nor natural flavors. Still, natural flavors are healthier than artificial flavors, although perhaps only marginally.
(It’s worth noting that natural flavors are more expensive and more damaging to the environment to obtain than are lab-created synthetic flavors.)
Organic Natural Flavors
Some snacks and beverages list “organic natural flavors” on the label. These flavors are added to foods that are certified organic, and as such they must be be produced without synthetic solvents or preservatives. You won’t find toxins like propylene glycol, polysorbate 80, or BHT in organic natural flavors.
So there you have another reason to choose organic foods!
