"Natural flavors" shows up on the ingredient lists of everything from cereal to sparkling water to protein powder. It sounds reassuring, but what does it actually mean, how is it different from "artificial flavor", and what should you look for? Here's a plain-English guide, including how we flavor our own products.
How common are natural flavors?
Very. A 2017 regulatory review in the Food and Drug Law Journal described natural flavors as the fourth most common ingredient listed on food labels. The same review points out that a "natural flavor" can still contain synthetic chemicals used as processing aids, which is why the term causes so much confusion.
What does "natural flavor" mean legally?
In the US, natural flavor has a legal definition in the Code of Federal Regulations (21 CFR 101.22):
"The essential oil, oleoresin, essence or extractive, protein hydrolysate, distillate, or any product of roasting, heating or enzymolysis, which contains the flavoring constituents derived from a spice, fruit or fruit juice, vegetable or vegetable juice, edible yeast, herb, bark, bud, root, leaf or similar plant material, meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy products, or fermentation products thereof, whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional."
In plain terms: the flavoring compounds have to come from a natural source, such as a fruit, a plant or a fermentation. The rule says much less about how they are extracted or what else ends up in the finished flavor. A single "natural flavor" on a label can be a blend of many components, including solvents, carriers and preservatives that help separate and stabilize the flavor.
That is different from the word "natural" on the front of a package. The FDA has no formal definition for "natural" as a label claim, only a long-standing policy, so the two terms work very differently.
What's the difference between natural and artificial flavors?
The difference is the source, not necessarily the chemistry.
- A natural blueberry flavor is extracted from something that grew, like real blueberries or another plant, and then concentrated and blended.
- An artificial blueberry flavor is built from aroma and flavor compounds made by chemical synthesis that together taste like blueberry.
Sometimes the key flavor molecule is identical either way. What "natural" guarantees is where it came from, not that it is simpler, cleaner or better for you.
What makes an organic-compliant flavor different?
This is where the details matter. For a flavor to be used in a product certified USDA Organic, the National Organic Program sets stricter rules: flavors must come from organic or nonsynthetic sources only, and may not be produced using synthetic solvents, carrier systems or artificial preservatives. That rules out several of the processing aids that a conventional natural flavor is allowed to contain.
"Organic compliant" will not appear on a label next to the word flavor. If you want to know, look for the USDA Organic seal on the product, or ask the brand directly.
Does Ora Organic use natural flavors?
Yes, in our flavored products, and we use them in products certified USDA Organic, so the flavors have to meet the organic rules above. We use them because taste matters to us: a supplement only helps if you actually enjoy taking it every day. Our protein, So Lean & So Clean, was crafted by Chef Ron, who tested more than 100 blends to get a flavor-rich formula without artificial sweeteners, fillers or gums.
For more on reading a protein label, see what makes a protein powder "clean" and our guide to eating organic. And if you want to see what goes into our products and how we test them, our testing page and certificates of analysis are public.
Natural flavors at a glance
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Natural flavor | Flavoring compounds that come from a natural source, such as a fruit, plant or fermentation. May contain synthetic processing aids. |
| Artificial flavor | Flavoring compounds made by chemical synthesis rather than taken from a natural source. |
| Organic-compliant flavor | A flavor from organic or nonsynthetic sources, made without synthetic solvents, carrier systems or artificial preservatives, as required for USDA Organic products. |
| "Natural" on the front of a pack | No formal FDA definition; covered only by an informal policy. |
