Safety Evaluation of Flavoring Substances and Clean Label Overview

Health and wellness awareness among consumers has pushed the flavor market from artificial flavors and additives toward natural flavorsNatural flavors, non-GMO, organic, and clean labelClean labels. The increased demand in processed food and beverages has accelerated the global food flavorFood flavors market value, which is predicted to reach an estimated $18.4 billion by 2024. Safety evaluation is key in the commercial usage of both existing and novel flavoring substances. There is no standardized definition of the term clean labelClean labels, although it is usually associated with shorter, recognizable, and naturally sourced ingredient lists along with the absence of artificial, chemical, and seemingly unnecessary ingredients. Nevertheless, lawsuits questioning food manufacturers’ label claims are increasingly frequent, indicating consumers demand greater transparency and would benefit from an understanding of flavors and their associated regulations. This chapter is going to cover (1) the regulation and safety evaluation procedure for flavors, (2) clean labelClean labels flavor definition and associated issues, and, lastly, (3) major challenges and future perspectives.