Protein powder

artificial flavors

Catch-all for synthetic flavor chemicals; regulatory threshold does not address cumulative exposure

acesulfame potassium

Limited safety data; may affect insulin response; animal studies showed tumor increases.

natural flavors

Vague term masking hundreds of possible compounds; may include MSG, beaver anal gland secretions, and other sources.

sucralose

May alter gut microbiome; studies show possible DNA damage at high doses.