What are these "ingredients"? Spices, Natural flavors, Natural flavoring, etc.

[HappyMommy2]

Does anybody have a good source for finding out what these really mean?  Thanks Mamas!!

[HollyBearsMom]

Those are often other names for MSG.

Here is a good place to start:

http://www.truthinlabeling.org/hiddensources.html

http://www.truthinlabeling.org/index.html

[cristeen]

Fortunately, the pp is only half right. They *can* be MSG, but "spices" can also serve to conceal secret spice blends from the competition. "natural flavoring" can serve to conceal a flavoring that most consumers wouldn't consider all that natural (chemically processed), but it can also mean something as innocuous as vanilla.

The only way to know what that particular manufacturer means for that particular product is by contacting them. They will usually confirm/deny specific things for allergy reasons, but don't expect them to just give you a list of ingredients.

[JElaineB]

Originally Posted by HollyBearsMom 

Those are often other names for MSG.

Here is a good place to start:

http://www.truthinlabeling.org/hiddensources.html

http://www.truthinlabeling.org/index.html

My MIL, who gets severe migraines from MSG, has looked into this and says that labels are now specifically required to state if the product contains (added) MSG. Based on this info from the FDA website it appears she is correct:

http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=101.22

 (5) Any monosodium glutamate used as an ingredient in food shall be declared by its common or usual name "monosodium glutamate."

The FDA link also describes all the other terms the OP is asking about.

[earthmama369]

I've written to a number of companies to ask about non-specified ingredients because of my son's allergies. They won't provide lists of the ingredients in things like "spices" and "natural flavoring," but if you provide a reasonable list of things you're either allergic to or want to avoid, most of them will confirm the presence of the items on your list. Bonus, many of them will also provide coupons or free samples as a result of you contacting them with your question.