Here at FoodFacts.com, we love getting emails with inquiries, comments and suggestions. One of the most common questions we’re asked is about “flavors” – users want to know what these ambiguous ingredients are and why they are marked as controversial in our database.
The answers to both questions are linked: we often don’t know what “flavors” are, and we find that lack of transparency in food labeling to be unacceptable and quite controversial. Food manufacturers are permitted to use “flavors,” “flavoring,” “natural flavors” and “artificial flavors” as a label for any number of chemicals that they don’t have to disclose.
Let’s take a closer look at one of these ingredients: Natural Orange Flavor. It sounds pretty simple and pure, right? It brings to mind maybe some essence of an orange, like the oil or juice or zest. This is unfortunately not the case. In fact, natural orange flavor doesn’t contain oranges at all. Here is what it does contain:
1) Propylene glycol
2) Polysortbate 80
3) Natural and Artificial Flavors
4) Paprika
5) Natural Tocopherols
Source:
www.spectrumchemical.com/MSDS/O3047.pdf
That will really make you think twice about a product that claims to be “all natural” but contains “flavors.” For the record, the third ingredient, “natural and artificial flavors,” is clearly hiding even more chemicals, additives and undisclosed items.
We’ve also gotten emails from manufacturers asking how they can avoid the negative impact to their score from using “flavors.” We suggest that they change their ingredient list to explain exactly what these “flavors” are so that the consumers can decide for themselves if the ingredients are, in fact, natural.
Foodfacts.com is obsessed with one thing: the facts. We believe that consumers have the right and responsibility to know exactly what is in the products they purchase and feed to themselves and their families. Labeling that hides chemical additives, potential allergens and other ingredients is contrary to our core values and therefore always considered “controversial,” whether the manufacturer claims it is “natural” or not.
For more information on natural flavors, please visit our resources page and click on “Controversial.”
