On 24 Oct 2003 03:23:17 GMT, OSPAM (JLove98905)
wrote:

>This is a pet peeve of mine. When labels say "natural flavor." A lot of times,
>this seems to mean that the flavor is artificial, but designed to taste like
>its natural counterpart. Like, "natural orange flavor" sometimes means flavored
>to taste LIKE natural oranges.
>
>But sometimes, I think it really does mean that the flavor is naturally
>derived. I can't tell the difference sometimes. It bugs me! Has anyone else
>managed to decode this?

http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/CF101-22.HTML

An extract:
"(3) 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."