Artificial v. Natural: Whats the difference?
* A single natural or artificial flavor can contain many different ingredients; e.g. the artficial “strawberry” flavor contains 49 ingredients, most of which are difficult-to-pronounce chemical compounds. * The difference in how the flavor is classified is based on the METHOD in which it is derived, but ultimately the chemical composition can be nearly identical. * Surprisingly, artificial flavors are simpler in composition and potentially safer because only safety-tested components are used. And because natural flavors require a natural source instead of one that is developed in a laboratory, they can be more costly and deplete natural sources. (Gary Reiniccius, Food Science and Nutrition, U. of Minnesota) What to do? Read your labels. And if you are craving something banana-flavored, why not try a real banana?
