what are the “natural flavors” and how are they zero calories?

Question

For example on my sparkling water it’s flavored with “natural flavors” but is still zero sugar and zero calories

In: Chemistry

Answer 1

The chemicals responsible for the taste of a food were extracted from a natural source rather than made artificially. Any sugar that was in the source was removed before being added to the sparkling water.

What compounds contribute to the flavor depends on the flavor you’re going for. Often it is a mix of easily vaporized organic compounds (we’re talking compounds of carbon, hydrogen, and often other elements like oxygen and nitrogen). [This study](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3921181/) for instance, notes 31 different chemical compounds that contribute to the flavor of strawberries.

That these compounds are easily vaporized is important. Aside from the five basic tastes of sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami (savory); smell is a large part of taste.