Nature-Identical Flavoring

Irritant: Nature-identical flavorings are a heterogeneous group of small organic chemicals; many individual flavoring agents and impurities are known contact or ingestion irritants and can cause skin redness, rashes or gastrointestinal upset—effects babies are more likely to show because of sensitive skin and mucosa. The ingredient listing gives no specifics, so this possibility cannot be ruled out.

Eczema: Fragrance- and flavor-type molecules are a recognized trigger for allergic/atopic skin reactions in infants and children (and can worsen existing eczema). Because 'nature-identical flavoring' may include sensitizing compounds, use in infants under 6 months carries a risk of triggering or worsening eczema.

Absorbed: Many flavoring molecules are small and orally bioavailable; they are absorbed across the gut into the bloodstream. Infants have immature gut and metabolic systems, increasing systemic exposure relative to adults, so unspecified flavoring chemicals can reach the circulation.

Organ Risk: Some individual flavoring chemicals or their impurities/metabolites have shown liver, kidney or lung toxicity in animal or occupational studies. Given the unspecified composition and infants' limited metabolic capacity, there is a plausible risk that certain constituents or contaminants could harm developing organs with repeated exposure.

Long-Term Risk: Because 'nature-identical flavoring' is an undefined mixture and long-term effects of many flavoring constituents or low-level contaminants have not been studied in infants, chronic or developmental risks cannot be excluded. Regulatory guidance restricting added flavorings in infant formulas reflects concern about potential long-term harms from repeated early-life exposure.