IONA NURSE NEWS
June 2025
NATURAL FLAVOURS
Chances are you have seen the words “Natural Flavours” on numerous food and beverage containers, when you are grocery shopping. When you read the ingredients list, 90% of these products contain “natural flavours”. Are they safe to eat?
Natural flavours are created from substances extracted from these sources:
- Spices
- Fruit or fruit juices
- edible yeast, herbs, bark, buds, root leaves or plant material
- dairy products, including fermented products
- meat, poultry, or seafood
- eggs
The flavours are obtained by heating and roasting and using enzymes to extract flavors. All flavours contain chemicals, whether they are natural or artificial, in fact every substance in the world, including water, is composed of chemicals.
In most cases, natural flavours appear safe for human consumption, when consumed occasionally in processed foods. Anyone with severe allergies or dietary preferences (like following a vegan or vegetarian diet) should be wary of consuming natural flavours.
The reason flavours are added to our food is to enhance the consumer’s sensory experience, so we will continue to buy it. The function of natural flavouring is simply for what it says – to flavour the product, it has no nutritional value and no calories and natural doesn’t mean there are any health benefits.
If you want more information on this subject just type Natural Flavours on your computer.
Have a wonderful summer.
Blessings Christine (parish nurse)