Natural and artificial flavors in protein powder

What it is

Under US labeling rules, a natural flavor is an essential oil, extract or similar product whose flavoring parts come from sources such as spices, fruit, vegetables, herbs, meat, seafood, eggs or dairy, and whose main function in food is flavoring rather than nutrition. An artificial flavor is a substance used for flavor that does not come from those sources.

The ingredient lists here do not say why it was added.

How labels word it

• Natural Flavors
• Natural Flavor
• Natural Vanilla Flavors
• Organic Natural Flavors
• Natural and Artificial Flavor

Powders that list it (15)

• 4 Vega Protein Made Simple, Vanilla Plant · 4 ingredients Pea Protein, Organic Cane Sugar, Coconut Cream Powder, Natural Flavors
• 5 Jay Robb Egg White Protein, Vanilla Egg white · 5 ingredients Egg white powder, Natural flavor, Sunflower lecithin, Xanthan gum, Stevia leaf extract
• 5 Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey, Double Rich Chocolate Whey · 5 ingredients Protein Blend (Whey Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Concentrate, Hydrolyzed Whey Protein), Cocoa Powder (Processed with Alkali), Sunflower and/or Soy Lecithin, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Acesulfame Potassium
• 5 Vega Protein Made Simple, Dark Chocolate Plant · 5 ingredients Pea Protein, Organic Cane Sugar, Cocoa Powder (Processed With Alkali), Coconut Cream Powder, Natural Flavors
• 6 Ascent 100% Whey Protein, Vanilla Bean Whey · 6 ingredients Whey Protein Isolate Blend (Native Whey Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Isolate), Whey Protein Concentrate, Natural Flavors, Lecithin, Stevia Leaf Extract, Sea Salt
• 6 Momentous 100% Plant Protein, Vanilla Plant · 6 ingredients PURIS® Pea Protein, Organic Brown Rice Protein, Natural Vanilla Flavors, Organic Cane Sugar, Sea Salt, Reb M
• 6 Momentous Whey Protein Isolate, Vanilla Whey · 6 ingredients Grass-fed whey protein isolate, ProHydrolase®, Natural flavors, Salt, Monk fruit extract, Stevia
• 7 Ascent 100% Whey Protein, Chocolate Whey · 7 ingredients Whey Protein Isolate Blend (Native Whey Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Isolate), Whey Protein Concentrate, Cocoa (Processed with Alkali), Natural Flavors, Lecithin, Sea Salt, Stevia Leaf Extract
• 7 Manitoba Harvest Complete Plant Protein Blend, Vanilla Plant · 7 ingredients Pea Protein*, Hemp Seed Powder*, Coconut Sugar*, Natural Flavors, Guar Gum*, Monk Fruit Extract, Oregano Extract
• 7 Momentous Whey Protein Isolate, Chocolate Whey · 7 ingredients Grass-fed whey protein isolate, ProHydrolase®, Natural flavors, Cocoa, Salt, Monk fruit extract, Stevia
• 8 Momentous 100% Plant Protein, Chocolate Plant · 8 ingredients PURIS® Pea Protein, Organic Brown Rice Protein, Cocoa, Organic Cane Sugar, Natural Flavors, Salt, Stevia, Monk Fruit Extract
• 8 Vega Essential Protein, Creamy Vanilla Plant · 8 ingredients Pea Protein, Acacia Gum, Coconut Oil Powder, Stevia Leaf Extract, Natural Flavors, Sea Salt, Xanthan Gum, Rosemary Extract
• 9 Dymatize ISO100, Gourmet Chocolate Whey · 9 ingredients Hydrolyzed Whey Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Isolate, Cocoa Powder (Processed with Alkali), Salt, Soy Lecithin, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Potassium Chloride, Sucralose, Steviol Glycosides (Stevia)
• 9 Vega Essential Protein, Creamy Chocolate Plant · 9 ingredients Pea Protein, Cocoa Powder (Processed With Alkali), Acacia Gum, Coconut Oil Powder, Stevia Leaf Extract, Natural Flavors, Sea Salt, Xanthan Gum, Rosemary Extract
• 10 Orgain Organic Protein, Creamy Chocolate Fudge Plant · 10 ingredients Orgain Organic Protein Blend (Organic Pea Protein, Organic Brown Rice Protein, Organic Mung Bean Protein, Organic Chia Seed), Orgain Creamer Base (Organic Acacia, Organic High Oleic Sunflower Oil, Organic Rice Dextrin, Sunflower Lecithin, Organic Rosemary Extract), Organic Alkalized Cocoa, Organic Natural Flavors, Organic Agave Inulin Fiber, Organic Reb A (Stevia Extract), Sea Salt, Organic Acacia, Organic Guar Gum, Xanthan Gum

Sources

• 21 CFR 101.22, Flavoring labeling