By: Genevieve Melzer
“The term natural flavor or natural flavoring means the essential oil, oleoresin, essence or extractive, protein hydrolsate, distillate, or any product of roasting, heating or enzymolysis, which contains the flavoring constituents derived from a spice, fruit or fruit juice, vegetable or vegetable juice, edible yeast, herb, bark, bud, root, leaf or similar plant material, meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy product, or fermentation products thereof, whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”
Wow, that is a mouthful! After reading that but not understanding a few of the big words I do however get the gist of what is being said…basically natural flavors are an additive flavor that serves no nutritional function. The Food Industry uses natural flavors as an Umbrella term for many different additives.
So why are natural flavors added? If they aren’t adding a nutritional function why are they needed at all? Food companies are using natural flavors as a way to make their food more addicting. This is just another reason why we should all be growing and cooking our own food from scratch. Processed foods are full of natural flavors even healthy looking items or ones that say “all natural” are full of weird additives and strange chemicals.
What are a few “natural flavors”?
Natural flavors can be such things as MSG, Aspartame and Castoreum (which is made from sex glands of beavers…yes I’m serious…I know horrifying)
Some natural flavors include animal matter or dairy so they are not vegetarian or vegan but are allowed in vegan and vegetarian foods. Watch out if you are a vegan or a vegetarian because natural flavors are lurking on the back of almost all packaged food items.
What can we do?
I don’t want to make anyone feel powerless; there is always something you can do to change your situation and the world.
1. Read Labels: Don’t buy anything with natural flavors, it may be difficult at first because your body will be going through withdraws but once it’s out of your system you will triumph.
2. Call the company of the food and ask for example “What natural flavor is in this vegetarian split pea soup?” They should tell you and then look it up online and see what it really is and choose if you want to continue buying that product.
3. Write a letter to the food company and express your frustration with the use of natural flavors and the fact that you will not be consuming them anymore.
4. Grow your own food, start a small garden so you know exactly what your body is consuming.
Next time you are craving a piece of strawberry cake, or a bag of potato chips take a second and consider what might be hidden in that favorite snack food and opt out for the real version of that food that could fill that craving instead.
Till we meet again trust your instincts and stay positive!
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