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Vanilla, hazelnut, caramel. Theres no shortage of artificially flavored coffees available out there. And it makes sense: 63 percent of Americans drink coffee every day, per the National Coffee Association. Naturally, there needs to be a flavor for every kind of coffee drinker.
But if youre a fiend for French vanilla, you may be wondering: Just how healthy are those faux flavors in my morning cup?
Below, we break down the basics of the common additives and ask health experts for their take on the question: Is drinking artificially flavored coffee every day “bad” for you?
People Who Should Limit Artificially Flavored Coffee
Flavor agents that contain any of the nine most common food allergens must disclose their presence, but less common allergens are not required to be listed, according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG).
“Anyone with allergies, especially rare food allergies, should be extra careful when consuming foods [or drinks] with added flavors, as we often dont know what chemicals are contained in these flavorings and some could cause an allergic reaction,” Matone says.
What Are Artificial Flavors?
Theres a good chance youve scanned a food label and seen the words “artificial flavors” listed among the ingredients. The vague term is essentially a catchall that refers to any flavoring agents that arent derived from natural sources like spices, fruits, vegetables, herbs or animal products, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The catch? Artificial and natural flavors (which can actually be chemically identical) serve the same purpose: to provide flavor — not nutrients — to food substances, says Mary Matone, RD, a registered dietitian at the virtual private practice Culina Health.
Whats more, artificial flavors may undergo even more rigorous laboratory testing compared to natural flavors, per Harvard University. So theres that.
Where Does Flavored Coffee Get Its Flavor?
To add a hint of caramel (or another go-to flavor) to your cup, manufacturers may coat coffee beans with artificial flavors that have been combined with a solvent called propylene glycol, a common food additive and flavoring agent, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
Propylene glycol is “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) for use in food by the FDA.
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FAQ
Are flavored coffees unhealthy?
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What does naturally flavored coffee mean?
Does naturally flavored coffee have sugar?