Alternate Names

Synthetic Flavoring

Description

Flavorings which are made from chemicals instead of natural sources (NOT derived from a spice, fruit or fruit juice, vegetable or vegetable juice, edible yeast, herb, bark, bud, root, leaf or similar plant material, meat, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy products, or fermentation products thereof). For flavors derived from natural sources, see Natural Flavorings.

Additional Information

There are over 1,000 synthetic flavorings. Click here for a full list of Synthetic Flavoring Agents and Related SubstancesSynthetic Flavoring Agents and Related Substances.

Found In

Thousands of packaged and processed foods including: beverages, snack foods, desserts, baked goods, crackers, ice cream, frozen meals, cookies, chips, alcoholic beverages, flavor packets, spice blends, taco seasoning, quick boxed rice, soup, juice, soda, sauces

Possible Health Effects

Because artificial flavorings can be derived from hundreds of different chemicals, health effects and allergy information would depend on the specific flavoring used. If you have a food allergy, food sensitivities, or do not want to eat anything of unknown source, stay away from all foods containing artificial and natural flavorings.

Allergy Information

See Possible Health Effects section

In The News

4/24/06: The Guardian reports, href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/2006/apr/24/food.foodanddrink" class="bfslink" target="_blank">The 59 ingredients in a fast-food strawberry milkshake discusses the huge amount of artificial ingredients found in a McDonald's strawberry milkshake. 4/7/04: Today on MSNBC, Food Q&A: Just what is 'natural' flavoring? by Phil Lempert discusses the differences between natural and artificial flavorings.

Online Resources/Related

• US Food and Drug Administration, Specific Food Labeling Requirements: Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives., Revised April 1, 2010, US Food and Drug Administration
• Natural News, Secretive' Chemicals Being Hidden in Food Under 'Artificial Flavors' Label, April 10, 2008, Jennifer McKinley

Print Resources

• Winter, Ruth. A Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives, 7th Edition: Descriptions in Plain English of More Than 12,000 Ingredients Both Harmful and Desirable Found in Foods. Three Rivers Press, 2009
• Farlow, Christine Hoza, D.C.Food Additives: A Shopper's Guide To What's Safe & What's Not. KISS For Health Publishing, 2007 Revised Edition
• Minich, Deanna M. An A-Z Guide to Food Additives: Never Eat What You Can't Pronounce. Conari Press, 2009

Copyright November 10, 2010 Be Food Smart