The 411 on “Natural Flavors” on Your Food Labels

You’ve probably seen “natural flavoring” in the ingredients list of numerous products and wondered what that actually means. Natural flavors are derived from natural sources, such as fruits, vegetables, spices, and herbs. The natural sources are heated or fermented to extract and obtain the flavor. This allows natural flavorings to act as a flavor enhancer.

Why is the enhancement of flavors with natural flavors significant? They provide various advantages to food products.

• It allows the product to taste better without adding synthetic additives
• It offers freshness and richness of flavor, and provides a tasteful component to sweet and savory dishes
• It improves the taste of products without adding additional calories. They’re a good alternative to sweetened products becausethey reduce sugar intake. You can add this to desserts, cereals, protein shakes, and more!

Now you are probably thinking, “are natural flavors similar to artificial flavors?” The answer is no. Many scientists have mentioned that natural flavors and artificial flavors have a significant difference, which is that artificial flavors are chemically altered in a lab while natural flavors are naturally grown. The main motive for using the term “natural” as opposed to “artificial” simply comes down to the fact that artificial flavors are synthetic while natural flavors are not. With that being said, natural flavors are just as natural as they sound. However, it’s still important to learn about the product as a whole in order to determine whether or not it’s a good choice for your health.

OWYN works closely with flavor suppliers on making ingredient decisions. We have complete control over what’s included in our flavors, and what’s not. You’ll never see artificial or synthetic flavors in our products. OWYN offers a truly vegan product, natural flavors included!