“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 for the vegetarians and vegans out there, if there is the phrase "natural flavors" on a package of food (or coffee) chances are it is not meat free, or cruelty free for that matter.
Now to get back to the ingredient castoreum, watch this video to find out what this odd sounding ingredient is. Now the scary part is that not only is castoreum commonly used in perfumes and sometimes cigarettes, but it has been used in the food industry for the past 80 years!
Another bad thing about flavored coffee, is it really isn't naturally flavored. To create a flavored coffee industries take last year's old beans, and soak them in a mixture of flavor compounds and a chemical such as propylene glycol ( popularly used in pharmaceuticals, and airplane de-icing compound!). These syrups are poured onto the beans after roasting, they are then agitated to form an even coating on the bean. Flavor syrups are very strong, geared toward engaging your sense of smell as much as, or more than your taste. Not only are they strong, but they are also persistent. Someone is often able to smell the type of flavored coffee you had, on your breath or clothing ( even after a few washes) for a few days!
I'm sure your thinking at this point, but the syrups must be ok! Unfortunately they aren't. I've graded a number of popular syrup coffee flavorings, the more red X's the worse it is.
- Monin- XX
- International Delight- XXXXX
- Starbucks- XXX
- Dunkin donuts (flavored coffee)- XX
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