Artificial Flavoring

What this is

Artificial flavoring is not one chemical, so it is best understood as a category of flavoring agents and adjuvants. In U.S. labeling rules, a flavor whose function is to impart flavor and that is not derived from specified natural sources is labeled artificial. Safety review therefore depends on the specific flavoring substances and solvents or carriers used, not only on the words "artificial flavor." For restaurant users, the practical limitation is opacity: menus usually list "artificial flavor" without naming each component.

Safety Review

The critical endpoints experts review in safety assessments. This is not a prediction of harm.

Safety evaluation for flavors is normally substance-by-substance, considering structure, metabolism, intake, genotoxicity, and animal data. Most flavor-use exposures are low, but the category remains opaque to consumers, and FDA delisted several specific synthetic flavoring substances under the Delaney Clause after animal carcinogenicity findings even while stating intended-use exposure was low risk.