Lavender in Your Food and Drinks: Natural Herb or Chemical Concoction?

Lavender-flavored products are becoming increasingly popular, especially in coffee drinks and other foods. However, many of these items may not contain real lavender but rather artificial flavors and chemicals. The FDA's designation of lavender as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) allows products to bypass stringent safety reviews, making it crucial for consumers to read ingredient labels carefully. Real lavender will be listed as "lavandula," but the presence of natural or artificial flavors raises questions about the authenticity and safety of the product. Additionally, lavender oil, used in some products, can be toxic if ingested in large quantities. Concerns also extend to food dyes, which may cause health issues, leading to legislative efforts to ban harmful colorants. Consumers are advised to seek out products that use real lavender and avoid those with ambiguous or artificial ingredients.

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