Natural flavouring
Under Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT, Article 3 clause 3, a flavouring is a substance added to food to impart, modify or enhance its flavour. Under Codex CXG 66-2008, natural flavouring substances are obtained by physical, enzymatic or microbiological processes from material of plant or animal origin.
- Code
- No E or INS number
In Vietnam✓ Permitted if listedJECFA, FEMA (GRAS) or EU list — Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT, Article 5(4)
The rule in Vietnam
Under Circular 24/2019/TT-BYT, Article 5 clause 4, flavourings used in food include flavourings on one of these lists: those "evaluated by JECFA and determined safe at the expected intake or at the acceptable daily intake (ADI)"; those "recognised as safe (GRAS) issued by the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association of the United States (FEMA)"; and "the flavourings for food of the European Union issued by the European Parliament and the Council" (translated from the Vietnamese text).
How natural flavouring appears on labels
natural flavouringnatural flavouringsnatural flavoringnatural flavoringsnatural flavournatural flavoursnatural flavornatural flavorshương liệu tự nhiên
Frequently asked questions about natural flavouring
What is a natural flavouring?
Under Codex CXG 66-2008, natural flavouring substances are obtained by physical processes (for example distillation and solvent extraction), or by enzymatic or microbiological processes, from material of plant or animal origin. Natural flavouring complexes are preparations containing such substances, including essential oil, essence, extractive, protein hydrolysate, distillate, or a product of roasting, heating or enzymolysis.
How does a natural flavouring differ from a synthetic one?
Under Codex CXG 66-2008, natural flavouring substances are obtained from plant or animal material by physical, enzymatic or microbiological processes, while synthetic flavouring substances are formed by chemical synthesis.
What does a label need to say for Yenzo to count it as natural flavouring?
When the ingredient list says "hương liệu tự nhiên" or "natural flavouring" (including the spelling "natural flavor"). If a label says only "hương liệu" or "flavouring" without "tự nhiên" or "natural", Yenzo counts it as artificial flavouring.
Other flavourings
Information only, not medical advice. The risk level is the additive's class in Yenzo's open scoring method, based on the cited source.