Reading the Label
Natural Flavoring
Flavors are natural when they are made by extracting and/or isolating the flavoring of an ingredient from its natural sources. The extraction methods vary, but they are designed to capture the compounds with processes like distillation where heat, pressure and solvency cause the flavoring compounds to separate from the natural material they are locked into. A very simple example that you probably are familiar with is making an coffee espresso shot; in a rudimentary way, you have just created a natural flavoring extraction!
Artificial Flavoring
Flavors that are made from compounds which are synthesized in a lab instead of extracted from a natural source are called artificial flavorings. Often, a flavor can be made from the exact same olfactory compounds as the real thing, but with a simplified synthesis from other ingredients in a laboratory that cost less than the real thing. Artificial flavors can also be made with compounds that are similar, but not exactly the same thing as the natural source. As long as these alternative compounds are recognized as safe, they may be used in an artificial flavoring to create a strong and brilliant flavor profile. That makes artificial flavors more potent and cost effective in many use cases. It can also make them less perfect of a match because a natural flavor can have hundreds more compounds that are contributing to the complex and distinct flavor profile.
Natural and Artificial Flavoring (N&A Flavoring)
These flavors combine the best of natural compounds for their complex and complete flavor notes, with the potency and distinction of artificial compounds. N&A flavors have the potential to draw out the potent notes that consumers are looking for when they are not easy to isolate in a 100% natural flavor.
“With other natural flavors” (WONF)
“With other natural flavors,” Also abbreviated as “WONF” means that there are multiple sources of 100% natural compounds being used to make a natural flavor, not just the named flavor on the label. For example, a strawberry flavor might need some extracts from a rose flower in order to make it stand out with a potent “WOW!” Or a tropical flavor like pink guava might be stronger with a little citrus top note derived from a grapefruit peel. In both cases, the main flavor is the star and appears in the name on the label, but it burns brighter because it is getting fueled by some helpful extracts that have a potent, and related flavor profile. These flavors are labeled as such, “with other natural flavors.”
“Natural Type” flavor
This is a natural flavor made from natural compounds but the name of the flavor is only to represent the generalization of what it tastes like, and the ingredients are compounds from other natural sources than the name. What’s in the name, is only the name.
For example, lets say a flavor is called “Acai Type Flavor” because it tastes like the Amazonian açaí fruit, but instead of using expensive açaí berries it is actually made from compounds extracted from grape skins, blueberries and raspberries that when combined, taste exactly like the açaí fruit. The flavor profile is açaí, but that fruit is not used to make it. This can also happen when an adjective is used in a flavor name. For example, “Wild Melon” or “Blue Raspberry” would be confusing without calling them “Type Flavor” because the melon was not wild, it was grown on a farm, and the Raspberry was not blue, but it has the louder candy and electric notes that we often call “blue raspberry.”
Nutrition panels and ingredients lists
It is important to note that when you use Flavorah flavorings, there are no nutritional elements from the flavoring to report in a nutrition facts panel like vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates etc. Read more about that here. Unlike a puree or juice concentrate that also contains healthy benefits like vitamins, minerals and fibers, Flavorah flavorings just contain the flavoring compounds that make the taste.
If you want to fortify the nutritional elements in your food or beverage or emphasize benefits associated with the taste – for instance antioxidants from blueberries or raspberries- then those must come from additional ingredients that impart those qualities and compounds. It is always okay to mix Flavorah with real fruit juices and purees to get both amazing flavors and these added health attributes for your nutrition label.
Labeling your flavor ingredients
Generally, the ingredients label on a product made with Flavorah should start with “Contains:” and list the ingredients in order of amount from highest to lowest and say either “natural flavoring,” “natural and artificial flavoring,” or “artificial flavoring” accordingly. For example if you make a gummy candy from your ingredients and a Flavorah Natural Flavoring, your label will say something like “Contains: sugar, gelatin, natural flavoring.”
If you chose to specify the exact flavoring names, such as “Contains: natural strawberry flavoring, natural and artificial blueberry flavoring” etc., then you will also need to include the “WONF,” “Organic” and “Type” words where appropriate on your labels as explained above.
