About
Natural olive oil flavour is a flavouring preparation derived from Olea europaea (olive) fruit or oil, used to impart or enhance the characteristic taste and aroma of olive oil in food products such as snacks, dressings, sauces, and baked goods. It is used at low levels to replicate or intensify olive oil sensory characteristics without the cost or caloric density of bulk oil addition.
Safety summary
Natural olive oil flavour is derived from a food source with a long history of safe human consumption and is not associated with significant toxicological risk at flavouring-use levels. No specific ADI has been established by EFSA or JECFA, as flavouring preparations derived directly from food sources are generally permitted without full pre-market evaluation provided they pose no known safety risk. No IARC classification applies; there are no known carcinogenicity, genotoxicity, or reproductive toxicity concerns at typical use levels.
Regulatory landscape
| Jurisdiction | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union) | Approved | The common authorisation procedure for food flavourings is established under Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008. Natural flavouring preparations from olive oil fall under the general flavouring framework; no specific restriction or ban applies.source |
| FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India) | Approved | FSSAI regulates flavourings under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations. Natural flavouring preparations from food sources such as olive are permissible; no specific restriction on natural olive oil flavour has been identified in the FSSAI flavouring compendium.source |
| FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States) | Approved | Natural flavours derived from olive oil/fruit are regulated under 21 CFR 101.22. Natural flavourings from edible food sources with a history of use are generally considered GRAS. The FDA's GRAS framework requires safety to be supported by publicly available science; no formal pre-market approval is required for natural flavouring preparations from recognised food sources such as olive.source |
Who should approach with care
Research citations
- 1FDA. Understanding How the FDA Regulates Food Additives and GRAS Ingredients. fda.gov
- 2FDA. EU Rules on Flavourings — European Commission Food Safety. food.ec.europa.eu
- 3PubMed. The safety evaluation of food flavouring substances: the role of metabolic studies, 2018. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 4FDA. Agency Response Letter GRAS Notice No. GRN 000600 — Hydroxytyrosol (Seprox Biotech), 2016. fda.gov
- 5EFSA. Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on flavourings and certain food ingredients with flavouring properties for use in and on foods, 2008. eur-lex.europa.eu