Flavorings in foods may come from surprising sources read more at here www.spinonews.com/index.php/item/1037-flavorings-in-foods-may-come-from-surprising-sources

Flavorings in many foods and beverages may come from surprising sources. But, the US Food and Drug Administration said you can find out what's really in your foods by checking the ingredients list on product labels.

The FDA said, a label "maple" cereal contains any maple syrup. It could be made with maple-like flavoring that might come from maple tree sap or bark. It could even come from an herb commonly used in Indian dishes called fenugreek, cereal could also have artificial maple flavoring.

The only way people can know if they are tasting the real thing is to check the labels and ingredient lists on the foods they buy.

FDA regulations allow companies to use terms like "maple-flavored" or "artificially maple-flavored" on the labels of foods that do not contain these actual ingredients. The foods just have to contain some types of maple flavoring.

Douglas Balentine, director of the FDA's Office of Nutrition and Food Labeling, said, Labels must declare if this flavor comes from an artificial source. However, people who want to be certain a food is made with a particular ingredient should look for specific mention of this item on the ingredient list.

For example, when buying grapefruit juice look for the words "grapefruit" or "grapefruit juice" to ensure the juice is actually made with the fruit.

Some labels will also advertise that a product is made with certain natural or pure ingredients, such as stating that it contains 100 percent maple syrup.

Felicia Billingslea is director of the FDA's Food Labeling and Standards Staff, said that, consumers have long recognized products like chocolate pudding, cake and cookies may be made with cocoa. If cocoa is listed in the ingredient list, the name of the food can include the term "chocolate" in certain situations.

When it comes to butter, however, there is less guesswork. Products labeled as butter products, such as butter cookies, must be made with 100 percent butter. If they also contain shortening, they must be labeled as butter-flavored.

The agency tracks what companies put on their food labels and packages to make sure they aren't misleading consumers. The FDA said, it can take action or seize products that violate labeling requirements.