Natural Flavors Including Smoke Flavor

Natural flavors are complex mixtures derived from natural sources like plants or animal materials. Smoke flavor is a type of natural flavor created by exposing food ingredients to smoke or smoke distillates. The specific compounds used are carefully selected and processed to impart a smoky taste and aroma.

Manufacturers use natural flavors, including smoke flavor, to enhance or impart specific tastes and aromas in food products. They are commonly found in processed meats like sausages and hot dogs, as well as in snacks, sauces, and baked goods, to create desirable flavor profiles.

Natural flavors are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA when used as intended. Regulatory bodies like JECFA and EFSA have evaluated many flavor compounds, though specific evaluations for 'natural flavors' as a broad category are not typically assigned numeric limits. Evidence does not suggest adverse health effects from typical consumption of foods containing natural flavors.