Artificial flavoring is flavouring built from substances produced by chemical synthesis. Thai labelling, which most snacks on SeekSnack follow, sorts added flavours into three groups: natural flavours taken from plants or animals, nature-identical flavours that are synthesised but chemically the same as molecules found in nature, and synthetic or artificial flavours. Many packs list more than one group.
A flavour is usually a blend of many aroma molecules rather than a single substance. Synthetic flavourings let a maker build a strong orange, butter, cheese or seafood aroma that is the same in every batch and survives frying or baking, using very small amounts. Flavouring substances are evaluated by JECFA, and each country keeps a list of those it allows.
The only flavouring listed on Violet Orange Flavoured Wafer is artificial, while Lay’s Stax Original combines natural, nature-identical and artificial flavours.
