I have recently learned that sometimes companies can list ingredients on their label as "natural flavors." What is troubling is that this term (aside from meaning somewhat synthetic or un-natural) is that these "natural flavors" can contain elements of meat by products, or dairy or egg. Seems awful that they can do this when some people try to follow diets that specifically avoid these things.
For instance I found out that a vegetable soup I would have considered eating on fasting days had these natural flavors that did contain meat.
My question, is, if we should actually try to avoid this ingredient listing on fast days since we can not say for sure what is in it? Should we call the company, or look up on the internet? Should we just say, if we aren't told there is meat in it, and the product is not made to taste like meat, just eat it anyway since it is beyond our control? Or maybe avoid it on things like soup where it is likely to contain meat, and not worry when it is listed in like a granola bar for instance?
I think companies should list if products are in fact vegetarian when it is not obvious that they are not. Or have separate terms for natural flavors that contain meat and natural flavors that do not. Anyone else ever think about this? Here is the actual definition below.
“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”
