The characterizing flavor regulation turned 50 this year (2023)!

FDA originally believed that this regulation be simple to apply and used lemon pudding with natural flavors to explain the different qualifiers.

Alas if FDA could quote the 2000s film Hitch “I saw that going differently in my mind” because in practice this regulation is “so complex that it is not surprising that [it has] frequently been the cause of confusion and varying interpretations by both manufacturers and regulators.” I suspect that the Agency never thought it would be used in some many consumer lawsuits either.

Click through to learn more and enjoy some vintage ads.