Flavour formulations that meet consumer demands for clean labels and health, while ensuring the authenticity and quality of ingredients, is a priority for food industry professionals. In this blog, we clarify the distinctions between natural flavours, extracts, and organic options, unravel naming conventions like WONF and FTNF, and guide you through the regulatory landscape affecting flavour choices in your end product. Savour these insights, one flavour at a time, and make well-informed decisions for your product development.
Natural flavours are aromatic compounds derived directly from real foods such as fruits, vegetables, and spices. These flavours capture the essence of nature, delivering authentic, recognizable tastes. Through processes like distillation and fermentation, they are used to enhance the depth and complexity of food and beverage formulations.
Natural extracts are concentrated flavours obtained by isolating essential oils or other compounds through extraction, distillation, or maceration. These potent flavours are typically dissolved in a solvent, often alcohol, to preserve their intensity and are used in small amounts to significantly impact a product’s taste. For premium quality, consider the vanilla extracts from Vanille B.V. or explore the most powerful citrus note of lemon myrtle essential oil from Australian Native Products.
Organic flavours come from organic raw materials grown without synthetic pesticides, fertilisers, GMOs. Extracted naturally, these flavours maintain ingredient purity and adhere to strict organic standards. They capture the essence of their source while supporting sustainable, environmentally friendly practices, offering a flavourful choice aligned with organic agriculture and responsible consumption.
There are different ways to refer to natural flavours. But what do they really signify? Understanding the nuances is needed to ensure correct labelling of products. Let’s dive deeper.
WONF (With Other Natural Flavours) or “X Natural Flavouring” refers to flavouring derived from natural sources, with less than 95% coming from the named source (e.g., Apple Natural Flavouring from Foodie Flavours). These blends, made from plant-based materials and extracts, are suitable for vegans and vegetarians. A great example is the Cream Cheese Natural Flavouring, ideal for desserts or vegan cheese sauces.
FTNF (From the Named Fruit) or “Natural X Flavouring” indicates that at least 95% of the flavouring is derived from the named source, with the remaining 5% required to be natural as well (e.g., Natural Raspberry Flavouring). Foodie Flavours offers over 80 natural flavours that are manufacturing-grade and highly concentrated, available in flexible quantities of 15ml, 200ml, 1L, and 5L, ranging from classic flavours to exotic choices like pina colada or chai.
As of 1 January 2022, the EU Organic Regulation mandates that processed products must contain at least 95% organic agricultural ingredients to be labelled as organic, including terms like “bio” and “eco.” To help maintain a clean label, Selectarome offers a range of organic and natural flavours in various quantities, including 30ml, 3kg, 10kg, and 25kg.
If non-organic ingredients are used, the product cannot be labelled organic but can list the organic status of individual ingredients (e.g., “Water, cane sugar (organic), lemon, orange flavour (organic)”).
In a significant regulatory update, the EU has banned eight smoke flavourings due to genotoxicity concerns, effective from 1 July 2024, with a transition period for manufacturers to adapt. To smoothly navigate this change, explore the smoke-free smoke-flavours from Stringer Flavours, designed to deliver that beloved smoky taste without traditional smoking methods.
Experience exceptional flavours at 1-2-Taste. Discover a diverse range of high-quality, natural and organic flavour options to elevate your food creations. With a commitment to excellence, we offer a seamless ordering process, ensuring you receive the finest ingredients for your creations. Savour the difference of our carefully curated flavours – your gateway to taste innovation starts here.
