Natural Flavors = Frustration

Natural flavors are two words I never thought twice about until I started reading food labels.  Now they drive me crazy.  Excuse me for saying but what the hell is a natural flavor?  I know companies want to keep their secret recipes secret but can't you just tell me what is in your food or beverage so I know if I can eat it?  It is no secret that Fiona has food allergies and I modified my diet while breastfeeding her.  Now of course her diet is different too.  I have again changed my diet for Euan. 

Today I got very irritated with the term natural flavors as I bought some dry roasted sun flower seeds (yup, I take full responsibility for not reading the label in the store, my fault and I will put my guard back up).  I get home, Fiona is sleeping, Euan is sleeping and I go to have a snack.  As I have a handful I look at the label and I roll my eyes and have some choice words as the last ingredient is natural flavors.  I stupidly assumed the one and only ingredient would be sunflower seeds.  Again, I will get my food guard back up and rolling.  

According to Title 21, Section 101, part 22 of the Code of Federal Regulations:
"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."

So really anything but the kitchen sink.  We got burned by the term natural flavors with Fiona.  The moral of the story is avoid natural flavors and read a label on the next thing you eat - there will probably be some natural flavors. 

One more thing....for those of you who know me, I drink Pepsi.  Last ingredient is natural flavors.  I spoke with multiple people at Pepsi who assure me there is no soy in Pepsi.  We've tested that, they are correct.