Flavorings are used across almost every food category, which makes correct declaration important for manufacturers selling in the Eurasian Economic Union. Core requirements are established by TR CU 022/2011 on food labeling and TR CU 029/2012 on food additives, flavorings and processing aids.
If a named ingredient is not actually present and its character is provided by flavoring, the product name may need wording equivalent to “with the flavor of” or “flavored with,” depending on the applicable EAEU language and category rules.
For example, a soup that contains chicken flavoring but no chicken meat or broth should not be presented in a way that implies chicken is an ingredient when it is not.
The ingredient declaration generally identifies the presence of a flavoring using the regulatory term for flavoring. A descriptive or invented flavor name may be included where appropriate, but it is not always necessary to disclose the complete commercial name used by the flavor supplier.
The word “natural” may be used when the flavoring portion meets the regulatory criteria for natural flavoring substances and/or natural flavoring preparations derived from eligible natural source materials.
Carriers and other technically necessary components are treated separately from the flavoring portion when determining natural status under the applicable rules.
The individual flavoring substances that make up the aroma composition are generally not declared one by one on the finished-food label. The commercial flavoring is declared as the relevant flavoring category.
An additive present in a flavoring may need to appear on the finished-food label if it continues to perform a technological function in the final product. If it is present only as part of the flavoring system and has no technological function in the finished food, carry-over provisions may apply.
The flavor supplier’s specification should identify components relevant to the finished-food declaration.
Declarable allergenic ingredients remain relevant even when they enter the food through a flavoring. Manufacturers need complete supplier information to determine how they should appear on the finished label.
Certain colors are also subject to specific warning statements under EAEU rules when present in the finished product. This can matter when a flavoring includes a color that carries through into the food.
Flavorings are normally used at low dosage, and EAEU rules include cases where separate nutrition information for flavorings themselves is not required. For the finished food, nutrition calculation follows the requirements for that food category and its complete composition.
GMO-related labeling depends on whether relevant GMO-derived ingredients or materials are present and on the applicable EAEU threshold and declaration rules.
WorldMarket develops and produces flavorings and supports customers with specifications, application guidance and information needed for finished-product labeling.
Reference resources: EAEU TR CU 022/2011 — Food Products in Terms of Their Labeling; EAEU TR CU 029/2012 — Safety Requirements for Food Additives, Flavorings and Processing Aids; Codex Alimentarius CXG 66-2008.