What's the Deal with "Natural Flavors"?

“Natural flavors” — sounds harmless, right? You’ll spot it on tons of ingredient lists, but what does it actually mean? Food makers use it to boost taste, but the term itself is kind of vague… and honestly, a little misleading.

What Are Natural Flavors?

According to the FDA, natural flavors must come from natural sources like fruits, veggies, herbs, meat, or dairy. They’re defined in CFR Title 21, Part 101.22 as anything from essential oils to protein hydrolysates—as long as their main purpose is flavoring, not nutrition.

But Are They Truly ‘Natural’?

Not always. Even though they start from nature, they’re often heavily processed and can include solvents, preservatives, or even GMOs.

Why You Should Care:

🔍 Hidden Ingredients – Companies don’t have to list what’s actually in natural flavors.

🧪 Complex Blends – Some natural flavors can contain 100+ different substances.

⚠️ “Natural” ≠ Unprocessed – The term “natural” isn’t legally defined by the FDA for food labels.

Bottom Line:

Natural flavors are FDA-regulated and generally recognized as safe (GRAS), but that doesn’t mean they’re simple or clean. If you’re ingredient-conscious, it’s worth digging deeper.

Sources:

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/natural-flavors

https://www.mosaicflavors.com/news/the-importance-of-natural-flavorings-and-fda-requirements

https://www.fda.gov/food/nutrition-food-labeling-and-critical-foods/use-term-natural-food-labeling