Flavor Classifications

Natural

Natural Flavors are ingredients which come from sources in nature, such as spices, fruits or vegetables. The FDA has defined Natural Flavors.

CFR Definition of "Natural Flavors"
The term natural flavor or natural flavoring means 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. Natural flavors, include the natural essence or extractives obtained from plants listed in subpart A of part 582 of this chapter, and the substances listed in 172.510 of this chapter.

A flavor labeled as Natural must consist only of those ingredients derived entirely from the source. For example, a Natural Strawberry Flavor would contain only and entirely those flavor ingredients or extractives from the strawberry fruit.

W.O.N.F.

With Other Natural Flavors (W.O.N.F.)

W.O.N.F. (WONF) flavors must consist of all natural flavors, but may contain flavors derived from other natural sources in order to provide the final flavor profile. For example, a Tangerine Orange Flavor W.O.N.F would likely contain one or more components to provide the tangerine orange flavor, and additional natural flavors further achieve the target or complement the final Tangerine Orange flavor.

WONF flavors can be a method of obtaining the best value in natural flavors. Direct concentrates may be expensive or require special handling. WONF flavors may also obtain a naturally stronger flavor without the use of artificial flavors or enhancers, so they are able to still provide an “all natural” flavoring option for the product or application.

Natural Flavor Type (and N&A Type)

Natural Flavor Type is a flavor in which the natural ingredients used are different from the named product. For example, a Blueberry Type Flavor could be composed of natural flavors from apple, grape, and raspberry, for example, in order to achieve the final blueberry target profile, and still be named a Blueberry Flavor Type. Furthermore, the “Natural” portion of an N&A Flavor (see below) can also be Natural Type, which would then provide for a N&A Type Flavor.

Artificial

Artificial Flavors utilize compounds which are synthetically derived in order to achieve the desired flavor, such as a Strawberry or Raspberry Flavor. The FDA has defined Artificial Flavors as any substance, the function of which, is to impart flavor, which is not…a natural flavor.

CFR Definition of “Artificial Flavors”
The term artificial flavor or artificial flavoring means any substance, the function of which is to impart flavor, which is not derived from a spice, fruit or fruit juice, vegetable or vegetable juice, edible yeast, herb, bark, bud, root, leaf or similar plant material, meat, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy products, or fermentation products thereof. Artificial flavor includes the substances listed in 172.515(b) and 582.60 of this chapter except where these are derived from natural sources.

Natural and Artificial (N&A)

One or more of the key components is to be natural, but other ingredients may be artificial or artificially derived. A Natural and Artificial (N&A) Flavor is made from a combination of one or more natural flavor ingredients, in addition to artificial ingredients. The named flavor (e.g. Strawberry) is typically present as a natural ingredient in some form, and the other ingredients may be natural or synthetically derived.

Organic/Organic Compliant

Prime Ingredients offers flavors which can meet your Organic requirements.