Flavors are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are either “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) substances or food additives, which must be approved by the FDA.
Synthetic flavors are additives designed to mimic the taste of natural ingredients. Made with synthetically derived raw materials, an artificial flavor structurally mirrors the natural compound, offering manufacturers a cost-efficient way to achieve a specific profile.
Synthetic flavorings almost any desired type are now available. These frequently possess the delicate flavor and aroma of the natural products and also the desirable characteristic of stability, reproducibility and comparatively low cost. They provide consumers the opportunity to enjoy unique flavors they may not otherwise be able to experience in their original form, and they help food and beverage companies deliver consistent, high-quality experiences with their products.
On the other hands, natural flavorings are often more acceptable. However, they are quite complex and difficult to reproduce synthetically. In fact, one of the problems with natural flavorings is that they may vary according to season and other uncontrollable variables.
Synthetic flavorings, however, can be reproduced quite accurately. They can withstand with processing, readily available and they are consistent in quality. Flavorists prepare mixtures of flavors to meet consumer flavor preferences, all while following a stringent set of safety and efficiency guidelines. Because they are considered ingredient manufacturers flavorists and flavor production companies must comply with all the same FDA and USDA rules developed for food production.
A wide variety of synthetic flavors are used in processed foods. Many artificial flavors, such as amyl acetate (artificial banana flavor), benzaldehyde (artificial cherry flavor), and ethyl caproate (artificial pineapple flavor), are added to confectionaries, baked products, soft drinks, and ice creams. These flavorings are added in concentrations of 0.03% or less.
Actually, the many reasons for use of synthetic flavoring are basically the same as those for the use of flavoring themselves – enhancing, replacing, economical price, varying, rounding up, masking, etc.
The term synthetic, artificial and chemical flavoring have aroused the doubts and suspicious of consumers in some instances. However, many such chemical components also occur in nature. It’s important to note that all of the components of food, human bodies, and the world around are actually chemicals.
Synthetic food flavoring
