Natural Flavoring

[beavis]

So I'm shopping for BBQ Sauce, trying to find one that doesn't have chemical in it, like high-fructose corn syrup.

I find one that has tomato, molasses, salt, sugar, so far so good and then it lists "natural flavoring".

Sounds harmless doesn't it?

So I buy it, then google what the heck natural flavoring is:

"the essential oil, oleoresin, essence or extractive, protein hydrolysate, 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 products, or fermentation products thereof, whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional."


better living through chemistry?

 

[hoodat]

That always got to me also. Any time you see "natural flavoring" listed it really means UN natural flavoring.

 

[vfem]

But now I'm confused. I buy essential oils from things (they sell edible ones too for cooking)... so essential oils are not ok? Some of them are cold pressed like cold pressed extar virgin olive oil.

I think the term isn't all bad.... (Like some 'smoke' flavors are oils scented with natural wood smoke to add to meats... though NOT ALL!)

I think the term is actually too vague so mystery chemicals can get on for the ride!!!! :/

 

[hoodat]

The term is very vague. What it means is that it tastes like a natural product but isn't the real thing. Natural flavoring for strawberry could very well be derived from crude oil, a lot of flavorings are.