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Flavors fuel food industry, but remain a mystery
NEW YORK (AP) — They help give Coke its distinctive bite and Doritos its cheesy kick. But the artificial and natural flavors used to rev up the taste of processed foods remain a mystery to most Americans.
"Artificial and natural flavors" have become ubiquitous terms on food labels, helping create vivid tastes that would otherwise be lost in mass production. As the science behind them advances, however, some are calling for greater transparency about their safety and ingredients.
Last month, five consumer and environmental groups sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration expressing their concern about the flavor industry, which determines the safety of its own ingredients. The letter noted that safety is sometimes declared based on scientific data that isn't publicly available.
"If we're eating the stuff, it shouldn't be such a secret," said Lisa Lefferts, senior scientist at Center for Science in the Public Interest, a nutrition advocacy group that was among those who sent the letter.
---Candace Choi, Associated Press
"Artificial and natural flavors" have become ubiquitous terms on food labels, helping create vivid tastes that would otherwise be lost in mass production. As the science behind them advances, however, some are calling for greater transparency about their safety and ingredients.
Last month, five consumer and environmental groups sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration expressing their concern about the flavor industry, which determines the safety of its own ingredients. The letter noted that safety is sometimes declared based on scientific data that isn't publicly available.
"If we're eating the stuff, it shouldn't be such a secret," said Lisa Lefferts, senior scientist at Center for Science in the Public Interest, a nutrition advocacy group that was among those who sent the letter.
---Candace Choi, Associated Press
