Tag: Flavor industry

The rumor that a beaver's anal secretions, known as castoreum, are used to create raspberry flavoring is a persistent urban legend. While it is technically possible and historically has occurred, the use of castoreum in modern food production for raspberry flavoring is almost non-existent. The vast majority of raspberry flavors today are derived from synthetic sources or other plant-based materials.

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 'natural flavors' must come from natural sources like plants or animals. However, this term, the fourth most common ingredient on food labels, can mask a complex cocktail of chemicals, preservatives, and other hidden additives far from their original source.