Balancing a natural claim and product safety
Natural labeling attracts shoppers. Refrigerated, frozen, ready-to-eat or ready-for-cooking, all types of meat and poultry increase their chance of purchase when the package sports a natural claim, even when the claim comes with a higher price.
“Functionally natural flavors perform very similarly to artificial flavors, though some artificial flavors are difficult to replicate using natural flavors,” says Roger Lane, marketing manager, savory flavors, Sensient Flavors, Hoffman Estates, Illinois.
“Yeast extracts can provide taste enhancement when less clean ingredients are removed,” Lane says. “Since we produce our own yeast extracts, we’re able to meet the unique needs of each of our customers. If a manufacturer wants to go even cleaner than flavor or yeast extract, we also have a range of from-the-named-source extracts that are labeled as natural extract.