According to the FDA, natural flavors are substances extracted, distilled, or similarly derived from natural sources such as spices, fruit or fruit juice, vegetables or vegetable juice, edible yeast, herbs, bark, buds, root leaves, or plant material. These sources can be manipulated in a lab to create the desired flavor. Natural flavors are different from artificial flavors, which use man-made chemicals to give a product its particular flavor or aroma. However, the term "natural" is not well-defined by the FDA, and there is no official definition for it. This means that natural flavors can contain synthetic chemicals, and there is no guarantee that they are healthier or more natural than artificial flavors.

Food processors are required to list all of the ingredients on a food label, but flavor manufacturers do not have to disclose their ingredients. This means that natural flavors can contain dozens of other ingredients like preservatives and solvents that are not restricted by the FDA.

In summary, natural flavors are flavoring agents that are extracted from natural sources, but they can be manipulated in a lab and can contain synthetic chemicals. The term "natural" is not well-defined by the FDA, and there is no guarantee that natural flavors are healthier or more natural than artificial flavors.