Thaumatins were first found as a mixture of proteins isolated from the Katemfe Fruit (Thaumatococcus Daniellii) originally from Ghana, West Africa.

Within West Africa, the Katemfe Fruit has been locally cultivated and used to flavor foods and beverages for some time. The fruit’s seeds are encased in a membranous sac, or aril, that is the source of Thaumatin.

Some proteins in the Thaumatin family of sweeteners are roughly 2,000 times more potent than sugar. Although very sweet, Thaumatin’s taste is markedly different from sugar. The sweetness of Thaumatin builds very slowly. Perception lasts a long time, leaving a licorice-like aftertaste at high-usage levels.

Thaumatin is highly water-soluble, stable to heating, and stable under acidic conditions.

Thaumatin has been approved as a sweetener in the European Union (E957) and elsewhere. In the USA, it is a Generally Recognized as Safe flavoring agent (FEMA GRAS 3732).

The term “natural flavors” means that the natural product has been used to create the flavor. This does not mean that it is just the vanilla, fruit juice, etc., as there would not be enough intensity to make enough of an impact for flavoring. 

The flavors need to be extracted from a fruit or plant. For example, in our Smooth Vanilla, we use the vanilla bean and it's concentrated into a liquid form. To turn it into powder for use in flavoring dry products, it is then sprayed onto a carrier. In this case, the carrier is starch.

Some of the flavors use a hydrolyzed rice-based starch and others a non-GMO corn-based starch. Please note that we are not experts on this process. We purchase from highly reputable, industry-recognized companies with “certified” natural flavors, which also come free of soy, animal products, dairy, gluten, and GMOs.

At Nuzest, we receive Certificates of Analyses to verify that all of the ingredients meet regulatory conditions and specifications. All of our product lines (Clean Lean Protein, Kids Good Stuff, Protein Bars, and Digestive Support Support) are routinely tested for heavy metals, allergens, and contaminants. 

Heavy metals, including lead, are found in many natural foods including fruits and vegetables, grains, nuts, and seeds. They are also found in lesser amounts in meat, seafood, and dairy products. Because heavy metals are naturally occurring in soil, inevitably small amounts will be absorbed into many foods that we eat every day. 

Proposition 65 (Prop 65) which is officially known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, came into effect in California in 1986. Nuzest adds the Prop 65 warning to some of our products’ labels to ensure compliance with California regulations regarding notifying consumers about certain chemicals in our foods, including heavy metals.

Please see the following for more information: https://nuzest-usa.com/pages/about-prop-65

Our products do not use buckwheat.

We can confirm that there are no sulfites in our bars and protein powder.

The pea protein isolates used to create Clean Lean Protein come from sustainably cultivated European golden peas grown in Northern France. Complete with all nine essential amino acids, it is a natural source of iron, tasty, and easily digestible From seedling to shop floor, we use the cleanest growing, flavoring, and manufacturing methods available – meaning no chemicals, no additives, and no preservatives.

Nuzest products are not currently certified organic. The brand represents the very highest quality of pea protein we can get in the world. Currently, we can't guarantee the supply of organically certified protein of this quality.

Our products are clean and the ingredients are transparent. Our farmers are committed to sustainable production methods that minimize the use of pesticides or artificial fertilizers. From an environmental and water usage perspective, peas are among the most sustainable crops that can be grown. Most importantly, Nuzest's finished products are tested routinely for heavy metals, pesticides, solvents, and common allergens. Our products are clean and free of contaminants.

We are committed to continually improving the quality of our products and a clean lean future. Looking to the future, we hope to be able to offer a certified organic Clean Lean Protein alongside our current offerings, which would mean that more farmers would need to complete the certification process. 

Put simply, Nuzest is a brand centered around quality. We've invested a lot of time, effort, and expertise into delivering the highest quality products that make the most difference to people’s lives, at the best price – as sustainably as possible. That’s what Clean Lean Protein is all about – it’s a notion that’s embedded deep in the DNA of the company’s founders and formulators. We wouldn’t be using it ourselves if we didn’t feel the same way! 

There are no preservatives in any of our products.