What Does It Mean To Have A 'Clean Label'?

📝 Medically reviewed by Dr. Evan Leonard

🔍 Last updated May 20, 2024

📚 9 citations

📖 6 minute read

About the Author:

Dr. Evan Leonard is a Doctor of Medical Science and has been a board-certified physician associate since 2014. He practiced at the University of Florida's healthcare system for two years in internal medicine, followed by an additional two years in emergency and critical care medicine. He is now a university professor.

71% of United States consumers believe that it is important to be able to recognize the ingredients in the products they buy. ⁷ An increasing number of individuals are opting for non-GMO, all-natural, and organic products instead of those containing obscure, unnecessary, and artificial ingredients.

"Clean label" foods often have simple and recognizable ingredients that give consumers the peace of mind they deserve. They also give purchasers a sense of transparency about what they're putting into their bodies.

What Does “Clean Label” Mean?

In today's world, many manufacturers create products with a long list of ingredients and additives. Though some consumers still don't pay much attention to labels, every two out of three take into consideration ingredients when buying food and beverage products. ³

The "clean label" movement has helped fuel some general skepticism about the food industry. Consumer demand for natural products is only increasing, which has been a major motivator behind the "clean label" trend.

a bottle of vitamins on a counter top consumer term certain consumers ammonium bicarbonate certain ingredients e numbers scientific term consumer demands government regulations unnecessarily concerned react adversely favorite foods additives organic foods

The term "clean label" isn't just the latest trending buzzword in the food industry. It's a term broadly accepted by the food industry, general consumers, and even regulatory agencies. Consumer demand for transparency and quality has been increasing in recent years and has now reached an all-time high. ¹ ⁹

"Clean labels" impact the purchasing decisions of two out of every three consumers. ¹ While they are preferred, there is still some uncertainty about what a "clean label" is. A 2015 survey showed that 34% of global consumers do not fully understand what "clean label" means. ²

While there is no official definition for "clean label”, consumer opinions on "clean label" foods and supplements do vary, however. Regardless of any ambiguity, there are some key characteristics of "clean label" foods.

Defining a “Clean Label” in the Food Industry

Every food label requires five components, regardless of whether they claim to be "clean," organic, or all-natural. These components include and are not limited to:

A statement of identity.
The net weight of the product.
The address of the manufacturer.
The nutrition facts.
An ingredient list that includes allergen warnings and any health claims.

At this time, there is no regulatory or legal definition for what is "clean." In fact, this claim may mean different things to different people, often defined by the specific ways that food manufacturers market their products.

a bottle of vitamins on a counter top food additive packaged foods clean labelling packaged foods clean label means making scientific names artificial colourings helped feed product labels vitamin e

Products with "clean labels" often have the following characteristics:

Natural ingredients: No artificial ingredients, artificial colors, artificial preservatives, artificial flavors, artificial additives, or synthetic chemicals.
Recognizable ingredients: Easy-to-recognize ingredients that consumers know or are comfortable with.
Limited “Other Ingredients”: Other Ingredients are always listed below a Supplement Facts table and often contain inactive ingredients like binders, excipients, and fillers. Clean Label products typically have few “other ingredients” and opt for natural alternatives (like rice flour) to synthetics (like magnesium stearate, silica, or dioxide).
Transparency: Easily identifiable information on how the ingredients are sourced and how the product is manufactured.
Minimal processing: Products ideally undergo minimalistic processing techniques and contain as few ingredients as possible.

The "clean label" concept is built on principles of transparency and honesty. However, many "clean" products still might contain chemical-sounding components that many consumers mistake as artificial ingredients. Take, for example, ascorbic acid, which is simply vitamin C. ⁴ ⁵ ⁶

Identifying "Clean Label" Products and Natural Ingredients

It is often up to the food companies to determine what their "clean label" products contain. That's why it is so critical for consumers to buy from reputable, honest, and safe brands. In a murky and misleading industry, suppliers should strive to make safety and quality a clear priority. ‡

At Natural Cure Labs, each of our immune-boosting supplements meets the highest international standards through rigorous testing, expert review, and reliable ingredient sourcing. Every product is free from synthetic fillers or preservatives and contains naturally derived ingredients. ‡

Take, for example, our clean-label L-Lysine + Monolaurin supplement, a product that is 100% vegetarian, non-GMO, and gluten-free. These capsules are designed to support immune function and digestive health naturally and only contain four ingredients - L-Lysine, Monolaurin, Vegetable Cellulose (capsule), and Rice Flour, an essential part of the manufacturing process to ensure uniform fill. ‡

natural cure labs l lysine and monolaurin supplement food additives clean labelling food products food science y consumers recognize clean food products essential oils food product clean labelling trends

Bonus: How To Improve Your Gut Health, According To Research

Why Is “Clean Label” Important?

Food labeling is critical. It is a legal requirement that helps consumers be aware of what they are putting into their bodies. Though a lot of this comes down to consumer education, companies should strive to manufacture "clean label" foods with simple and natural ingredients. ⁷

Products that contain natural plant extracts are ideal, as these botanical-based formulas can better support overall health. ‡ At Natural Cure Labs, you can rest assured knowing each of our high-quality products is fully formulated, blended, and bottled on United States soil. With ingredients that are scientifically studied and researched-backed, our supplements are designed to be effective, pure, and clean to the core. ‡

Keep Reading: The Positive Effects Of Monolaurin On Your Health

References

Innova Market Insights. (2024). Clean Label Trends: Global Market Overview. Retrieved from https://www.innovamarketinsights.com/trends/clean-label-trends on May 09, 2024.
Canadean. Q4 Global Consumer Survey 2015. Global: What does the term "clean label" mean to you? Retrieved from https://www.newfoodmagazine.com/news/22698/consumers-confused-over-the-term-clean-label/ on May 09, 2024.
International Food Information Council. (2021). From “Chemical-sounding” to “Clean”: Consumer Perspectives on Food Ingredients. Retrieved from https://foodinsight.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Food-Ingredients-LSI-Survey.May-2021.pdf on May 09, 2024.
U.S. Food & Drug Administraion. (2013). Guidance for Industry: Food Labeling Guide. Retrieved from http://www.fda.gov/foodlabelingguide on May 09, 2024.
Hutt, C. A., & Sloan, A. E. (2015). Coming clean: What clean label means for consumers and industry. Global Food Forum Clean Label Conference. Retrieved from https://cleanlabel.globalfoodforums.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/Natural-to-Non-GMO-Info-for-Regulators-Consumers-C-A-Hutt-RdR-Solutions-Consulting-2015.pdf on May 09, 2024.
Vierhile, T. (2016). Clean label focus: What are consumers saying and what is the industry doing? 2016 Clean Label Conference. Retrieved from https://cleanlabel.globalfoodforums.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/Clean-Label-Focus-Consumers-vs-Industry-Response-Tom-Vierhile-Innovation-Insights-2016.pdf on May 09, 2024.
ATLAS, Ingredion Proprietary Global Consumer Research, 2020. Retrieved from https://www.ingredion.com/na/en-us/be-whats-next/growth-with-clean-label.html on May 09, 2024.
Nunes, K. (2016). Clean label — A $180 billion global opportunity. Food Business News. Retrieved from https://www.foodbusinessnews.net/articles/6980-clean-label-a-180-billion-global-opportunity on May 09, 2024.
Chang, M. Y., & Chen, H. S. (2022). Understanding Consumers' Intentions to Purchase Clean Label Products: Evidence from Taiwan. Nutrients, 14(18), 3684. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14183684

‡ These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Natural Cure Labs provides dietary supplements made from naturally derived ingredients. Our research-backed products contain premium botanicals and antioxidants that encourage healthy living and holistic wellness. Each high-quality product comes with a Clean Label that certifies our commitment to quality, transparency, and research. To stay connected and learn more, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.