What are "natural flavorings"? I see this ingredient listed in every brand of ketchup.?

Question

What substances or ingredients can be listed as "natural flavor," "flavor," or "flavorings" rather than by a specific common or usual name?
"Ingredients such as ginger, black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, celery powder, and garlic oil may be listed as one of the three categories mentioned above. They may be designated as "natural flavors" because they are substances used chiefly for flavor. They do not make a nutritional contribution, are not derived from an animal species, and there are no health concerns linked to them. "
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Help/FAQs_Flavorings/index.asp

Who is telling the whole truth?

Answer 1

The exact definition of natural flavorings & flavors from Title 21, Section 101, part 22 of the Code of Federal Regulations is as follows:

"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."

In other words, natural flavors can be pretty much anything approved for use in food.

Answer 2

for ketchup, it's tomatoes. On apple juice, it's apples. Pretty simple. If you can associate a fruit or vegetable with something, and it says it has natural flavorings, it has some of that thing in it, rather than like gatorade that just has artificial flavorings and has nothing to do with fruits at all.

Answer 3

This means that real tomatoes were used in the making of the ketchup.

Answer 4

probably a form of dehydrated tomatoes or in some cases a salt product

Answer 5

Probably tomato and vinegar.

Answer 6

not fake