When is a Flavor Truly Natural? | Syfo Beverages

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When is a Flavor Truly Natural?

September 8, 2014

Recently, news sources have reported that some companies may not be entirely transparent with the ingredients in their food and beverages that are labeled as containing “natural flavors.” So what makes a food or beverage flavoring truly natural?

According to the FDA, natural flavors are the essential oil, oleoresin, essence, extractive, protein or any product derived from roasting or heating that “contains the flavoring constituents derived from a spice, fruit or fruit juice, vegetable or vegetable juice, edible yeast, herb, bark, bud, root, leaf of similar plant material, meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy products, or fermentation products thereof, whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”

That’s not only quite mouthful but also a pretty broad definition. Translated, any process that extracts the flavor from a fruit, vegetable, dairy or animal product would be considered natural. This is opposed to combining chemicals in a laboratory to mimic or simulate the flavor.

Where it gets confusing is the other additives that are used either during or after the process. Some companies add preservatives, including MSG, which is both a preservative and a flavoring, into their natural flavors. Propylene glycol, a derivative of natural gas, is used by some beverage manufacturers as a solvent and humectant. Brominated vegetable oil (BVO) is an oil derived from soy that is used by some soda brands as an emulsifier to keep their flavorings from floating to the top of the drink. The bromine in BVO is a known endocrine disrupter and has been banned as a food ingredient throughout Europe and Japan.

So as you can see, plenty of products can be labeled as having “natural flavors” but what you’re consuming is anything but natural. Syfo Beverages’ natural flavors do not include propylene glycol, BVO or any other preservatives added during or after our flavor extraction process. Our all-natural flavors are derived from the essential oil that is extracted from the peel of the fruit. Instead of propylene glycol, we use vegetable-based glycerin that naturally keeps the product moist and inhibits bacteria growth.

Plus all of our products use water that is purified through reverse osmosis and they contain no sugar, artificial sweeteners, sodium or any other additives. So if you’re looking for a refreshing beverage that is both healthy and natural, reach for Syfo.