artificial vs natural flavors, take 2

[darkoshi]

FDA Removes 7 Synthetic Flavoring Substances from Food Additives List

The FDA is amending its food additive regulations in response to two food additive petitions, to no longer allow for the use of a total of 7 synthetic flavoring substances and flavor enhancers (adjuvants).

...

While the FDA’s recent exposure assessment of these substances does not indicate that they pose a risk to public health under the conditions of their intended use, the petitioners provided evidence that these substances caused cancer in animals who were exposed to much higher doses. As such, the FDA is only revoking the listing of these six synthetic flavorings as a matter of law. The FDA has concluded that these substances are otherwise safe.

Each of these synthetic substances has a natural counterpart in food or in natural substances used to flavor foods. The FDA’s revocation of the listings providing for the use of these synthetic flavoring substances and adjuvants does not affect the legal status of foods containing their natural counterparts or of flavoring substances extracted from such food, often labeled as “natural flavors.”

Based on evidence presented by the petitioners that benzophenone causes cancer in animals, the FDA also is amending the food additive regulations to no longer provide for its use as a plasticizer in rubber articles intended for repeated use in contact with food.

I wonder if this means that the corresponding "natural flavors" are just as likely to cause cancer in high doses as the artificial ones, or if there is some other difference between the natural and artificial ones after all.

Comments

[marahmarie]

Applies to anything "you’ve ever eaten [..] from a grocery store containing “artificial flavor.”" or only to "baked goods, ice cream, candy, beverages, and chewing gum", depending on which source you read. So that was fun. :/

[darkoshi]

I believe the ruling applies to any food & beverage product, but the flavors are most likely be used in the list of items from the 2nd article. Thanks for the first link, as it gives the details on which flavors are affected.

[marahmarie]

You're welcome!