Additive guides · Product label guide
What are natural flavors? The legal definition, what is in them and what the label hides.
Updated
What “natural flavor” means under 21 CFR 101.22, how it differs from artificial flavor, why the label does not list what is inside, and which catalog products list natural flavors.
Quick answer
Under US law (21 CFR 101.22), a natural flavor is an essential oil, oleoresin, essence, extract, protein hydrolysate, distillate, or product of roasting, heating or enzyme treatment of plant or animal material such as spices, fruits, vegetables, meat, eggs, dairy or fermentation products, whose main job in the food is flavor. An artificial flavor is any flavoring substance that does not come from those sources. Makers may list either as one ingredient without naming its components.
- Rule
- 21 CFR 101.22(a)(3)
- Label wording
- “Natural flavor(s)”
- Components listed?
- No
- Counted as additive here?
- Not flagged
01 · A closer look
The legal definition.
Section 101.22(a)(3) defines natural flavor as the essential oil, oleoresin, essence or extract, protein hydrolysate, distillate, or any product of roasting, heating or enzymolysis, which contains the flavoring constituents derived from a spice, fruit, vegetable, herb, meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy products or fermentation products, and whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional. An artificial flavor is a substance that imparts flavor and is not derived from those sources.
21 CFR 101.22: foods, labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives02 · A closer look
Why the label does not say what is inside.
Section 101.22(h)(1) allows spice, natural flavor and artificial flavor to be declared by those collective terms, so one “natural flavor” can be a blend of many components. The FDA also states that natural and artificial ingredients must meet the same safety standard, and its policy on the word “natural” considers that nothing artificial or synthetic should have been added that would not normally be expected in the food.
FDA: use of the term “natural” on food labeling03 · A closer look
What natural flavor does not tell you.
“Natural” describes the source of the flavoring substances, not that a food is unprocessed, organic or free of additives. If you have an allergy or a religious or dietary requirement, contact the maker.
04 · A closer look
How we treat it.
CleanFoodScore does not flag natural flavors as one of the nine additive groups. Many shoppers still want to see them, so the catalog products below show a recorded label that lists natural flavor; open any product for the full ingredient statement. To find products with fewer ingredients overall, use the comparison tables.
The short answer
Our picks for what are natural flavors?
WinnersNutiva Organic Coconut Oil Buttery Flavor, Lakewood Organic Littles Organic Apple Juice Boxes, and EnviroKidz Organic Cheetah Chomps Cereal each score 100/100. They tie, so choose on the exact flavor or format you want.
Runners-upWaterloo Coconut Lime Cooler Sparkling Water (71), Swerve Confectioners (71), and Zevia Cherry Lime (71).
Clear noWhite Oak Pastures Grass-Fed Beef Rum Jerky (lists artificial preservatives and corn syrups), Quest Nutrition Spicy Cheddar Cheese Crackers (lists seed oils), and Ripple Foods Vanilla Bliss Café Creamers (lists seed oils).
Ranked from 24 of 24 products with current labels. Every product is in the table below; a score reflects labels and claims, not nutrition, allergies or safety.
Compare the recorded labels
Find the ingredients that matter to you.
“No …” columns: None found on the label · Listed on the label · Unknown. Diet fit: Fits · Doesn’t fit · Unknown (rules; not medical advice). Claims: verified · not established. Default: most check marks first; not a health score.
| Buy | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · organic | Buy on Amazon ↗Product details → | 5 | ||||||||
Recorded ingredients Brown rice flour*, corn flour*, cane sugar*, gluten-free whole grain oat flour*, pomegranate juice concentrate*, black carrot juice concentrate* (color), sea salt, raspberry juice concentrate*, vegetable powder* (kale*, broccoli*, carrot*, spinach*, beet*, green cabbage*, parsley*), strawberry juice concentrate*, natural flavors*. *Organic. Produced in a facility that uses tree nuts, peanuts and soy. Label checked 2026-10-05 · US Ingredient evidence source ↗Sourcing claim evidence ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-05 Producer claims Organic The exact source catalog title states: “EnviroKidz Organic Cheetah Chomps Cereal”. Source catalog claims are shown separately from ingredient checks. Producer claim source ↗Reviewed 2026-10-05 | ||||||||||
| 100 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · organic | Buy on Amazon ↗Product details → | 5 | ||||||||
Recorded ingredients Filtered Water, Organic Apple Juice Concentrate, Organic Natural Flavor, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) Label checked 2026-10-11 · US Ingredient evidence source ↗Sourcing claim evidence ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-11 Producer claims Organic The exact source catalog title states: “Lakewood Littles Organic Apple Juice Boxes”. Source catalog claims are shown separately from ingredient checks. Producer claim source ↗Reviewed 2026-10-11 | ||||||||||
| 100 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · organic | Buy on Amazon ↗Product details → | 5 | ||||||||
Recorded ingredients Organic Refined Expeller-Pressed Coconut Oil, Organic Natural Flavors, Organic Annatto Extract (For Color). Label checked 2026-10-11 · US Ingredient evidence source ↗Sourcing claim evidence ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-11 Producer claims Organic The exact source catalog title states: “Organic Coconut Oil Buttery Flavor”. Source catalog claims are shown separately from ingredient checks. Producer claim source ↗Reviewed 2026-10-11 | ||||||||||
| 71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claim | Find where to buy ↗Product details → | 4 | ||||||||
Recorded ingredients *Organic cacao beans, *organic raw cane sugar, salted caramel granulates (organic cane sugar, salt), *organic cocoa butter, organic butterfat, sea salt (fleur de sel), natural flavor. Label checked 2026-10-11 · US Ingredient evidence source ↗Producer claims Sourcing claim not reviewed The catalog establishes this product’s name and photograph. Sourcing claims and a complete ingredient label may still need review. Producer claim source ↗Reviewed | ||||||||||
| 71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claim | Find where to buy ↗Product details → | 4 | ||||||||
Recorded ingredients Chickpea Pasta (Chickpeas, Pea Starch, Tapioca, Xanthan Gum), Cheddar Cheese (Pasteurized Milk, Salt, Cultures, Enzymes), Buttermilk, Tapioca Starch, Cornstarch, 2% or less of Butter (Cream, Salt, Annatto Extract), Natural Flavor, Salt, Nonfat Milk, Potassium Chloride, Sunflower Lecithin, Monoglycerides, Sodium Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Lactic Acid, Paprika Extract (Color). Label checked 2026-10-11 · US Ingredient evidence source ↗Producer claims Sourcing claim not reviewed The catalog establishes this product’s name and photograph. Sourcing claims and a complete ingredient label may still need review. Producer claim source ↗Reviewed | ||||||||||
| 71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claim | Find where to buy ↗Product details → | 4 | ||||||||
Recorded ingredients WATER, BROWN RICE FLOUR, TAPIOCA FLOUR, DRIED BLUEBERRIES (BLUEBERRIES, CANE SUGAR), POTATO STARCH, SUGAR, WHOLE GRAIN SORGHUM FLOUR, CULTURED BROWN RICE FLOUR, EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL, XANTHAN GUM, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF EACH OF THE FOLLOWING: EGG WHITES, YEAST, BAKING POWDER (SODIUM ACID PYROPHOSPHATE, TAPIOCA STARCH, SODIUM BICARBONATE, MONOCALCIUM PHOSPHATE), SEA SALT, NATURAL FLAVOR, ENZYMES Label checked 2026-10-11 · US Ingredient evidence source ↗Producer claims Sourcing claim not reviewed The catalog establishes this product’s name and photograph. Sourcing claims and a complete ingredient label may still need review. Producer claim source ↗Reviewed | ||||||||||
| 71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claim | Find where to buy ↗Product details → | 4 | ||||||||
Recorded ingredients Filtered Water, Coconut Cream, Cashews, White Rice, Dipotassium Phosphate, Natural Flavors, Salt. Label checked 2026-10-11 · US Ingredient evidence source ↗Producer claims Sourcing claim not reviewed The catalog establishes this product’s name and photograph. Sourcing claims and a complete ingredient label may still need review. Producer claim source ↗Reviewed | ||||||||||
| 71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claim | Find where to buy ↗Product details → | 4 | ||||||||
Recorded ingredients Purified water, cane sugar*, raw apple cider vinegar*, lime juice, organic cola flavor*, reishi*, lion's mane*, KSM-66 Ashwagandha Root Extract™, L-theanine* (from green tea), Alpha-GPC (Alpha-Glyceryl Phosphoryl Choline), vanilla extract*, fruit & vegetable juice (for color), natural flavors, Himalayan pink salt, black pepper*, and stevia leaf*. *Organically produced. Caffeine-free. Label checked 2026-10-11 · US Ingredient evidence source ↗Producer claims Sourcing claim not reviewed The catalog establishes this product’s name and photograph. Sourcing claims and a complete ingredient label may still need review. Producer claim source ↗Reviewed | ||||||||||
| 71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claim | Buy on Amazon ↗Product details → | 4 | ||||||||
Recorded ingredients Almonds, peanuts, chicory root fiber, honey, palm kernel oil, cane sugar, glucose syrup, rice flour, unsweetened chocolate, alkalized cocoa, sea salt, soy lecithin, natural flavor, cocoa butter. Contains almonds, peanuts and soy. May contain tree nuts. Label checked 2026-10-05 · US Ingredient evidence source ↗ | ||||||||||
| 71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claim | Find where to buy ↗Product details → | 4 | ||||||||
Recorded ingredients 100% whole grain wheat flour, cane sugar, 100% whole grain rolled oats, wheat protein isolate, 100% whole grain oat flour, palm oil, dried apples, apple powder (apples, rice flour), whey protein concentrate, cinnamon, leavening (monocalcium phosphate, baking soda), nonfat dry milk, sea salt, natural flavor. Label checked 2026-10-16 · US Ingredient evidence source ↗Producer claims Sourcing claim not reviewed The catalog establishes this product’s name and photograph. Sourcing claims and a complete ingredient label may still need review. Producer claim source ↗Reviewed | ||||||||||
| 71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claim | Find where to buy ↗Product details → | 4 | ||||||||
Recorded ingredients Whole Grain Rolled Oats, Roasted Peanuts, Tapioca Fiber, Coconut Oil, Peanut Butter (Roasted Peanuts), Pea Protein Isolate, Pea Protein Concentrate, Natural Flavor, Sea Salt, Tapioca Starch, Monk Fruit Extract, Rosemary Extract (To Preserve Freshness). Label checked 2026-10-11 · US Ingredient evidence source ↗Producer claims Sourcing claim not reviewed The catalog establishes this product’s name and photograph. Sourcing claims and a complete ingredient label may still need review. Producer claim source ↗Reviewed | ||||||||||
| 71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claim | Find where to buy ↗Product details → | 4 | ||||||||
Recorded ingredients Cultured Oat Milk (Water, Oat Flour*, Cultures)*, Coconut Oil*, Corn Starch*, Water, Contains 2% or less of: Potato Starch*, Tapioca Starch*, Jalapenos*, Sea Salt, Natural Flavor, Nutritional Yeast*, Organic Natural Flavor, Yeast Extract*, Annatto*, Spices*, Tomato*, Cane Sugar*, Garlic*, Onion*, Citric Acid Label checked 2026-10-11 · US Ingredient evidence source ↗Producer claims Sourcing claim not reviewed The catalog establishes this product’s name and photograph. Sourcing claims and a complete ingredient label may still need review. Producer claim source ↗Reviewed | ||||||||||
| 71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claim | Find where to buy ↗Product details → | 4 | ||||||||
Recorded ingredients Date paste*, raisin*, sorghum*, dark chocolate chip* (cane sugar*, cocoa liquor*, cocoa butter*), pumpkin seed*, goji powder*, cacao powder*, sunflower seed*, chia seed*, natural flavor*, sea salt, maca powder*. Label checked 2026-10-11 · US Ingredient evidence source ↗Producer claims Sourcing claim not reviewed The catalog establishes this product’s name and photograph. Sourcing claims and a complete ingredient label may still need review. Producer claim source ↗Reviewed | ||||||||||
| 71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claim | Find where to buy ↗Product details → | 4 | ||||||||
Recorded ingredients Citric Acid, Tapioca Syrup Solids∆, Sodium Bicarbonate, Potassium Bicarbonate, Sea Salt, and less than 2% of Calcium Bicarbonate, Magnesium Oxide, Stevia Leaf Extract, Sodium Carbonate, Olive Oil, Natural Flavor, Beet Juice (For Color)∆ Label checked 2026-10-11 · US Ingredient evidence source ↗Producer claims Sourcing claim not reviewed The catalog establishes this product’s name and photograph. Sourcing claims and a complete ingredient label may still need review. Producer claim source ↗Reviewed | ||||||||||
| 71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claim | Buy on Amazon ↗Product details → | 4 | ||||||||
Recorded ingredients Blended black teas, cinnamon, allspice, clove, ginger root, natural flavors, nutmeg extract. Label checked 2026-10-16 · US Ingredient evidence source ↗Producer claims Sourcing claim not reviewed The catalog establishes this product’s name and photograph. Sourcing claims and a complete ingredient label may still need review. Producer claim source ↗Reviewed | ||||||||||
| 71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claim | Buy on Amazon ↗Product details → | 4 | ||||||||
Recorded ingredients Erythritol, Tapioca Starch, Natural Flavor Label checked 2026-10-11 · US Ingredient evidence source ↗Producer claims Sourcing claim not reviewed The catalog establishes this product’s name and photograph. Sourcing claims and a complete ingredient label may still need review. Producer claim source ↗Reviewed | ||||||||||
| 71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claim | Find where to buy ↗Product details → | 4 | ||||||||
Recorded ingredients Organic carob (Ceratonia siliqua), organic barley (Hordeum vulgare), organic chicory (Cichorium intybus) dates (Phoenix dactylifera), almonds (Prunus dulcis), natural flavors, organic cinnamon (Cinnamomum loureiroi), organic nutmeg (Myristica fragrans), organic figs (Ficus carica), organic ginger (Siphonochilus aethiopicus), organic cloves (Syzygium aromaticum). Label checked 2026-10-11 · US Ingredient evidence source ↗Producer claims Sourcing claim not reviewed The catalog establishes this product’s name and photograph. Sourcing claims and a complete ingredient label may still need review. Producer claim source ↗Reviewed | ||||||||||
| 71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claim | Find where to buy ↗Product details → | 4 | ||||||||
Recorded ingredients Purified Carbonated Water, Natural Flavors Label checked 2026-10-11 · US Ingredient evidence source ↗Producer claims Sourcing claim not reviewed The catalog establishes this product’s name and photograph. Sourcing claims and a complete ingredient label may still need review. Producer claim source ↗Reviewed | ||||||||||
| 71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claim | Find where to buy ↗Product details → | 4 | ||||||||
Recorded ingredients ORGANIC CANE SUGAR, ORGANIC RICE SYRUP, ORGANIC CORN STARCH, LACTIC ACID, CITRIC ACID, SODIUM CITRATE, NATURAL FLAVORS, COLORED WITH ORGANIC FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONCENTRATES, ORGANIC SPIRULINA (COLOR). Label checked 2026-10-11 · US Ingredient evidence source ↗Producer claims Sourcing claim not reviewed The catalog establishes this product’s name and photograph. Sourcing claims and a complete ingredient label may still need review. Producer claim source ↗Reviewed | ||||||||||
| 71 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claim | Find where to buy ↗Product details → | 4 | ||||||||
Recorded ingredients Carbonated Water, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Stevia Extract Label checked 2026-10-11 · US Ingredient evidence source ↗Producer claims Sourcing claim not reviewed The catalog establishes this product’s name and photograph. Sourcing claims and a complete ingredient label may still need review. Producer claim source ↗Reviewed | ||||||||||
| 63 / 1008 of 9 groups clear · no organic claim | Find where to buy ↗Product details → | 3 | ||||||||
Recorded ingredients POLYDEXTROSE, CALCIUM CASEINATE, WHEY PROTEIN ISOLATE, BUTTER (CREAM, NATURAL FLAVOR), WHOLE OAT FLOUR, VEGETABLE OIL (CANOLA, SUNFLOWER, AND/OR SOYBEAN OIL), CHEDDAR CHEESE (MILK, SALT, CHEESE CULTURES, ENZYMES), WHEY POWDER, WATER. Label checked 2026-10-11 · US Ingredient evidence source ↗Producer claims Sourcing claim not reviewed The catalog establishes this product’s name and photograph. Sourcing claims and a complete ingredient label may still need review. Producer claim source ↗Reviewed | ||||||||||
| 63 / 1008 of 9 groups clear · no organic claim | Find where to buy ↗Product details → | 3 | ||||||||
Recorded ingredients Water, high oleic sunflower or safflower oil, contains less than 2% of pea protein, vanilla extract potassium citrate, sodium bicarbonate, natural flavor, sunflower lecithin, gum arabic, gellan gum, sea salt, monk fruit extract. Label checked 2026-10-11 · US Ingredient evidence source ↗Producer claims Sourcing claim not reviewed The catalog establishes this product’s name and photograph. Sourcing claims and a complete ingredient label may still need review. Producer claim source ↗Reviewed | ||||||||||
| 62 / 1007 of 9 groups clear · no organic claim | Find where to buy ↗Product details → | 5 | ||||||||
Recorded ingredients Grassfed Beef, Georgia Rum (Richland 86 proof), Honey, Soy Sauce (water, hydrolyzed soy protein, caramel color, potassium sorbate), Worcestershire (distilled vinegar, water, molasses, corn syrup, sugar, spices, natural flavors (soy), caramel color, anchovies, tamarind extract, paprika, white pepper, red pepper flakes, onion, garlic, ginger and lime Label checked 2026-10-11 · US Ingredient evidence source ↗Sourcing claim evidence ↗ · reviewed 2026-10-05 Producer claims Grass-fed The exact source catalog title states: “Grassfed Beef Rum Jerky”. Source catalog claims are shown separately from ingredient checks. Producer claim source ↗Reviewed 2026-10-05 | ||||||||||
| 60 / 1009 of 9 groups clear · no organic claim | Find where to buy ↗Product details → | 4 | ||||||||
Recorded ingredients Pasture-raised pork, sea salt, natural flavors from citrus fruit extracts, dried vinegar. No nitrates or nitrites added except those naturally occurring in sea salt. Label checked 2026-10-11 · US Ingredient evidence source ↗Producer claims Sourcing claim not reviewed The catalog establishes this product’s name and photograph. Sourcing claims and a complete ingredient label may still need review. Producer claim source ↗Reviewed | ||||||||||
How the clean score works
No setup needed, and strict: a full 100 needs every additive group clear and a verified organic claim (animal foods also need a verified grass-fed or pasture-raised claim; wild seafood and salt, which have no USDA organic standard, are scored without the organic points, and plant-based milks, cheeses and proteins without the feeding claim). Points: the nine additive groups (seed oils, artificial dyes, MSG, artificial sweeteners, carrageenan, artificial preservatives, hydrogenated oils, corn syrups, banned-abroad additives) share 60 points equally — not found earns a group’s full share, “may contain” earns half, listed earns 0; a verified organic claim is worth 25; a verified grass-fed or pasture-raised claim is worth 15 and counts only for animal foods. No claim, or an expired or unverified claim, earns nothing, so products without those claims cannot reach 100. Unverified or expired ingredient labels receive no score. Equal scores are equal. Ties are ordered by brand. Unknown and stale evidence never passes “Only show matches.” Producer claims and prices do not affect this score. This is not a nutrition, allergy, or safety rating.
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Primary sources