"Reading the ingredients, you can determine that the seemingly fruity component of the mix is actually made from a weird amalgamation of sugars, starches, dyes, and artificial flavors. But does this mean that all imitation products are made with such artificial ingredients? Not necessarily. In the U.S., the FDA requires products to be labeled as "imitation" if they resemble another food and are deemed to be nutritionally inferior by comparison."
"In order to be considered nutritionally inferior, the substitute must contain lower quantities of a measurable essential nutrient when compared to the actual food. The term "measurable quantity," when used in these regulations, means 2% or more of the recommended daily intake, and "essential nutrient" refers to things like protein, vitamins, and minerals. Differences in caloric content and fat content are not subject to these same regulations."
The FDA requires foods that resemble another food to be labeled "imitation" when the substitute is nutritionally inferior. Nutritional inferiority is defined by the substitute containing lower quantities of a measurable essential nutrient compared with the real food. "Measurable quantity" means 2% or more of the recommended daily intake, and "essential nutrient" includes protein, vitamins, and minerals. Differences in calories and fat are not covered by this rule. Many imitation products replace real ingredients with sugars, starches, dyes, and artificial flavors, but some cases, like vanilla extract, are governed by specific composition rules.
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