Artificial Flavoring
By: Chase Wall
Artificial flavoring is a specific and often complex mixture of singular naturally occuring flavor compounds combined to either imitate or enhance a natural flavor. There are many brand names of artificial flavoring companies. Some of these companies are American Fruits & Flavors, Universal Foods, and Target Flavors, Inc. Artificial flavoring can be used to mimic many different flavors so there is no exact chemical formula for it.
These are examples of what artificial flavors look like. They are hand made and put into foods
Uses For Artificial Flavoring
Artificial flavoring is used to enhance the taste and the smell of food. It is used in foods like cookies, cereals, chips, chocolate, and gum. A lot of flavored snack foods use artificial flavoring.
Why Use Artificial Flavoring?
Efficiency
When foods are store for long periods of time, artificial preservatives keep it fresh and good to eat. Using artificial flavoring also makes food potentially safer because the chemicals put into the food are well tested and controlled. It is also more efficient for a compan to use artificial flavors over natural flavors because they are a lot cheaper. Since they are cheaper, a company is able to mass produce more of the product.
Easy to Use
The use of artificial flavoring is much easier than natural flavors. The make up of the flavoring is always the same. This consistency decreases the amount of time spent figuring out how much of the flavoring needs to be used. It does not require as much artificial flavoring to give a food the same taste as it would have with natural flavoring. Even though it is artificial, it is not all made up of chemicals. Artificial flavoring is created based on the chemical make up of the natural flavor.
Health Effects
Some artificial additives can give you a boost of energy. There is no evidence that atrificial flavoring has any links to ADHD. Some artificial flavors use the same chemicals used in aspirin that is used to reduce the risks of heart attacks.