Natural Flavor in dog and cat food

Is it OK for dogs and cats?

Dogs

The cited sources identify no safety problem with natural flavors as a group at the amounts used in complete dog foods. 'Natural' describes the source and processing, not safety. The label may not say what the flavor is made from, so ask the maker if your dog must avoid a specific food.

Cats

The same applies to cats: the cited sources identify no specific concern. Cats taste food differently from dogs. They lack sweet taste receptors and are much more selective eaters, and flavor enhancers made for cat food generally do not serve the same purpose in dog food.

How settled this is: No known concern at the amounts used in complete foods

What natural flavor is

In the US, the federal labeling rules for animal food (21 CFR 501.22) define a natural flavor as a flavoring material that carries flavor from a natural source. The material can be an essential oil, oleoresin, essence or extract, protein hydrolysate or distillate, or a product of roasting, heating or enzyme treatment. The sources can be plants (such as spices, fruit, vegetables, herbs, bark, roots and leaves), edible yeast, meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy products, or fermentation products of these. Its significant function must be flavoring rather than nutrition. A flavoring not derived from these sources is an artificial flavor. FDA has not defined 'natural' for pet food labeling. Most states follow AAFCO's definition of 'natural': material from plant, animal or mined sources. It may be processed in ways such as heating, rendering, extraction, hydrolysis or fermentation. It must not be made by, or put through, a chemically synthetic process, and it may contain synthetic additives or processing aids only at trace levels that can occur under good manufacturing practice. In the EU, flavourings are feed additives in the 'sensory additives' group. They are described as substances that increase a food's smell or palatability.

Why it is in pet food

Flavors make food smell and taste more appealing. Dry kibble is the least palatable pet-food form, so flavor enhancers are commonly sprayed onto it. Dry powders are typically added at about 0.5–2% and liquids at about 1–3%. Palatants may be meat-based (from poultry, pork, beef or fish) or plant-based (from corn, soy, potato or grains). A natural flavor can also be the listed ingredient behind a flavor name such as 'chicken flavored'. AAFCO's flavor rule requires a listed ingredient to provide the named flavor, not a large amount of that ingredient.

What it does in the food

By definition, a natural flavor's significant function is flavoring, not nutrition. Its technological role is to improve smell and taste so that pets accept the food. Cats and dogs differ here. Cats lack sweet taste receptors, so they cannot detect sweetness, and they are much more selective eaters than dogs. Flavor enhancers used in cat foods generally do not serve the same purpose in dog foods.

Safety and limits

The cited sources set no specific limit for natural flavors as a group and identify no safety problem with them at the amounts used. AAFCO points out that calling an ingredient natural is not a statement that it is safer than one made by chemical synthesis. US label rules require some ingredients to be named instead of being covered by 'natural flavor'. Monosodium glutamate must be listed by that name. Dried or powdered foods such as onion powder and garlic powder must also be listed by their own names. Plant extracts and essential oils, however, can be declared simply as 'natural flavor'. In the EU, some flavourings may be listed only by the group name 'flavourings'. When that is done, the company responsible for the label must give the additive's name or identification number and the amount added if asked.

What depends on the amount and the recipe

What it is made from: the source may be a plant, yeast, or animal material such as meat, poultry, seafood, eggs or dairy. A US ingredient list may simply say 'natural flavor'. If your pet must avoid a specific food, ask the maker. Wording: when one ingredient is called natural, as in 'natural chicken flavor', the claim covers only that ingredient, not the whole food. Flavor names on the front of the pack: in the US, a 'chicken flavor' food needs a listed ingredient that provides the flavor. In the EU, an 'X flavour' food may contain none of X, with the taste coming from a flavouring. 'Flavoured with X' means more than 0% but less than 4% of X. The word 'natural' in the EU: FEDIAF's labelling code limits it to substances that have nothing added and only physical processing (some fermentation or enzyme steps without GMOs are allowed). This differs from AAFCO's wording.

Not the same as

• Artificial flavor — Under 21 CFR 501.22, a flavoring substance that does not come from the listed natural plant, yeast or animal sources.
• Animal digest — A specific ingredient made from hydrolyzed animal tissue. A label that lists 'animal digest' or 'chicken digest' names it directly. The US definition of natural flavor includes protein hydrolysates from meat and poultry, so the two can overlap.
• Spices — Whole, broken or ground aromatic plant seasonings, defined separately and declared as 'spice' or by name.
• Monosodium glutamate (MSG) — US rules require it to be listed by its own name. It cannot be included under 'natural flavor'.
• Garlic powder / onion powder — US rules treat dried or powdered vegetables as foods that must be listed by their own names, not as flavor.

Sources

1. 21 CFR 501.22 – Animal foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings, and chemical preservatives (eCFR, current as of 13 Oct 2026; last amended 2011) — US Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), 2011. Definitions of natural flavor (including protein hydrolysates from meat and poultry), artificial flavor and spice. Natural flavor may be declared as 'natural flavor'. Powdered onion and garlic must be declared by name as food. MSG must be declared as monosodium glutamate. Characterizing-flavor rules.
2. Natural — Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). AAFCO's definition of 'natural' (paraphrased). Most states require it. FDA has not defined 'natural' for pet food. Natural is not a statement of greater safety. 'Contains natural chicken flavor' applies only to that ingredient.
3. Reading Labels (the 'flavor' rule) — Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). A flavor name may be used when a listed ingredient provides the flavor. A large amount of the ingredient is not required.
4. FEDIAF Code of Good Labelling Practice for Pet Food (October 2019) — FEDIAF – European Pet Food Industry Federation, 2019. Flavouring compounds are sensory additives that increase smell or palatability. Some may be declared by the functional group only, with name or identification number and amount given on request. 'X flavour' means 0% of X; 'flavoured with X' means more than 0% and less than 4%. FEDIAF's rules on the term 'natural'.
5. Dry Pet Food Flavor Enhancers and Their Impact on Palatability: A Review (Samant et al., Foods 10(11):2599) — Foods (MDPI), via PubMed Central, 2021. Dry food is the least palatable form. Palatants are mostly sprayed on, at 0.5–2% (dry) or 1–3% (liquid). Meat-based and plant-based palatants are used. Palatants used in cat foods generally do not serve the same purpose in dog foods.
6. Drivers of Palatability for Cats and Dogs—What It Means for Pet Food Development (Watson et al., Animals 13(7):1134) — Animals (MDPI), via PubMed Central, 2023. Cats are much more selective eaters than dogs. Cats lack sweet taste receptors and cannot detect sweetness.

Checked against these sources on 2026-10-15. Definitions are in our own words. This is a reading aid, not veterinary advice: a vet who knows your animal comes first.