When did natural stop meaning natural?

 

Artificial Flavors: Artificial flavors are made in a lab, synthesized with chemicals and offer no actual nutritional benefit. These flavors are derived by substances such as petroleum or paper pulp. They are designed to replicate flavors at a cheaper cost. 

 

Natural Flavors: Natural flavors, like artificial flavors, are made in a lab. The key difference between an artificial flavor and a natural flavor is that the flavor in a natural flavor is originally derived from something “Natural". Per the FDA, this can include anything that comes from a spice, fruit or fruit juice, vegetable or vegetable juice, edible yeast, herb, bark, bud, root, leaf, meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy products, or anything fermented from those foods. 

This is where animal byproducts come in — such as raspberry natural flavor that is sometimes derived from a beavers anal glands. Natural flavors can contain up to 100 chemicals and are chemically the same as an artificial flavor. We found this to be the most surprising, especially since they are marketed as "Natural"! 

 

Parabens: A paraben is a group of chemicals that are used for preservation. Commonly found in beauty products, parabens are also used in food and beverages for preservation. Examples include beer, sauces, desserts, soft drinks, jams, pickles, frozen dairy products, processed vegetables and flavoring syrups.  Multiple studies suggests this group of chemicals can disrupt our hormones, have an adverse effect on the body and cause disruptions in anything from fertility to skin irritations to serious illness. You can read more here.

 

 

Sugar substitutes: Artificial sweeteners are just that, made in a lab, derived from chemicals and artificial. Some have been linked to serious adverse health effects as well. Stevia for example, is derived from the stevia plant, but chemically-altered, bleached, stripped down and likely to contain GMOs.