Flavouring

Flavouring is one of the markers Open Food Facts uses to classify a food as ultra-processed (NOVA group 4).

What it is and why it counts

Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste. Some are synthesised, some are extracted from plants or produced by fermentation, and labels often say only "flavouring" or "natural flavour".

Cosmetic additives

NOVA calls these additives "cosmetic": they change how a product looks, feels or tastes rather than keeping it safe to eat. Their presence is one of the two defining signs of an ultra-processed food.

Where it turns up

Flavouring appears in 14,501 of the 40,000 products on this site (36%).

Products containing flavouring

Showing the 60 most popular of 14,501.

How the NOVA classification works