However, since the FDA hasn't officially defined this term, it can be used to describe almost any type of food.

 

In the case of a natural flavor, the original source must be a plant or animal. By contrast, the original source of an artificial flavor is a man-made chemical.

 

Importantly, all flavors contain chemicals, whether they are natural or artificial. In fact, every substance in the world is composed of chemicals, including water.

 

Natural flavors are complex mixtures created by specially trained food chemists known as flavorists.

 

In addition to their original flavor source, these mixtures can contain more than 100 different chemicals, including preservatives, solvents and other substances. These are defined as "incidental additives."

 

However, food manufacturers aren't required to disclose whether these additives come from natural or synthetic sources. As long as the original flavoring source comes from plant or animal material, it is classified as a natural flavor.

 

What's more, because the term "natural" has no official definition, flavors sourced from genetically modified crops can also be labeled as natural.