Is Better Than Bouillon All Natural? Decoding the Ingredients

December 26, 2025 •

3 min read

According to product listings, even the organic versions of Better Than Bouillon state they are made with 95% certified organic ingredients. This raises the question for many home cooks: is Better Than Bouillon all natural? The answer depends heavily on which specific product line you examine and what you consider 'natural.'

Quick Summary

An analysis of Better Than Bouillon's ingredients reveals that its 'natural' status varies by product line. The conventional products contain processed ingredients and flavor enhancers, while the organic versions, though a better choice, are not 100% natural. Reading the label is crucial to understanding what is in each jar.

Key Points

Not all lines are created equal: The 'all natural' status depends on whether you choose the conventional or organic version of Better Than Bouillon.
Conventional versions contain processed additives: The standard varieties include ingredients like hydrolyzed soy protein and disodium inosinate, which are not considered natural.
Organic versions are a cleaner choice: The organic line uses certified organic ingredients but still contains some processed components like maltodextrin and 'natural flavor'.
'Natural Flavor' is not a whole food: This ingredient, present in both conventional and organic versions, is a lab-produced flavor concentrate.
Homemade stock is the only truly 'all natural' option: For 100% control over ingredients and no processed additives, making stock from scratch is required.
Read the label carefully: Consumers seeking healthier options must scrutinize the specific ingredient list, as 'natural' can be a misleading marketing term.
Still better than some alternatives: While not perfectly natural, Better Than Bouillon often has a cleaner ingredient list than many mass-produced bouillon cubes.

Is Better Than Bouillon Truly Natural? A Deep Dive

Many consumers turn to Better Than Bouillon for its rich flavor and convenience, often assuming it's a more 'natural' alternative to traditional bouillon cubes. However, a closer look at the ingredient list reveals a more complex picture. While some versions, particularly the organic line, use more recognizable food items, the conventional products incorporate a number of processed elements.

The Breakdown: Conventional vs. Organic

To understand if Better Than Bouillon is all natural, you must differentiate between its product lines. The brand offers standard bases, reduced-sodium versions, and certified organic options. The organic line is the closest one gets to a truly 'natural' product from the brand, but even these contain processed ingredients.

The Conventional Ingredients

Looking at the Roasted Chicken Base, for example, several components immediately stand out:

Corn Syrup Solids: A form of processed sugar. While derived from corn, it is not a whole food ingredient.
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein: This is created by breaking down soy protein with chemicals. It serves as a flavor enhancer and contains free glutamates, which are similar to MSG.
Disodium Inosinate and Disodium Guanylate: These are flavor enhancers often added alongside hydrolyzed soy protein to boost umami flavor. They are not considered 'all-natural' in the context of whole food ingredients.
Flavoring: A vague term that can refer to any number of processed and manufactured flavor compounds. While not always artificial, it's not a transparent ingredient.

The Organic Ingredients

In contrast, the organic line offers a cleaner label, though still not perfectly 'all natural'. For instance, the Organic Roasted Chicken Base lists the following:

Organic Chicken Meat and Natural Juices: This is the primary flavor component.
Salt and Organic Cane Sugar: Standard seasonings.
Organic Maltodextrin: This is a processed carbohydrate, often used as a thickener or stabilizer. While derived from an organic source, it is still a processed ingredient.
Natural Flavor: As with the conventional line, this is not a whole food ingredient and is made in a lab from natural sources.
Organic Spices: This is a more transparent ingredient, indicating recognizable herbs and spices.

Comparison Table: Better Than Bouillon Ingredients


Ingredient Category	Conventional Roasted Chicken Base	Organic Roasted Chicken Base	Implications for 'Natural' Status
Primary Flavor	Roasted Chicken, Natural Juices	Organic Roasted Chicken, Natural Juices	Organic version guarantees certified organic chicken.
Enhancers	Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate	Yeast Extract, Natural Flavor	Conventional contains processed chemical enhancers. Organic uses yeast extract and 'natural flavors.'
Sweeteners	Sugar, Corn Syrup Solids	Organic Cane Sugar	Organic uses a more minimally processed sugar source.
Starches/Thickeners	Food Starch	Organic Maltodextrin, Organic Food Starch	Both use processed starches, though the organic version guarantees their organic origin.
Artificial Colors	None specified	None specified	The brand generally does not use artificial colors.

The Takeaway for Health-Conscious Cooks

For those seeking an 'all natural' product, Better Than Bouillon is a mixed bag. The presence of processed components like corn syrup solids, hydrolyzed soy protein, and maltodextrin means the conventional versions do not fit a strict definition of 'all natural.' The organic line is a superior choice, as it avoids some of the more overtly processed additives found in the conventional products. However, even the organic options contain ingredients like 'natural flavor' and 'organic maltodextrin,' which are not whole foods. The brand’s claim of '95% certified organic ingredients' for its organic line highlights this distinction.

If your goal is to use only whole, unprocessed foods in your cooking, making your own stock from scratch is the only way to ensure 100% control over the ingredients. However, for a convenient and flavorful substitute, the organic line of Better Than Bouillon is a much better alternative than its conventional counterpart or many other packaged broths. You'll need to carefully read the labels and decide which ingredients you are comfortable with.

Conclusion

Is Better Than Bouillon all natural? No, not by a strict definition of the term, especially the conventional product lines. While the organic versions are significantly cleaner, they still contain some processed components. The brand provides a convenient, flavorful option for those who can't make stock from scratch, but a discerning eye toward the ingredient label is necessary for any cook prioritizing an 'all natural' approach. For the purest results, nothing truly replaces homemade stock.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, Better Than Bouillon's organic line is not the same as being 'all natural'. While it uses 95% certified organic ingredients and avoids some additives, it still contains processed ingredients like maltodextrin and 'natural flavor'.

Hydrolyzed soy protein is a processed food additive used as a flavor enhancer in conventional Better Than Bouillon bases. It is created by chemically breaking down soy protein and contains free glutamates, which provide an umami taste.

Conventional Better Than Bouillon products contain flavor enhancers like hydrolyzed soy protein and disodium inosinate and guanylate, which are not MSG but function similarly to boost umami flavor. The organic versions generally avoid these specific additives.

The 'reduced sodium' versions of Better Than Bouillon are based on the conventional formula and, therefore, contain the same processed ingredients and flavor enhancers. They are not considered 'all natural'.

'Natural flavor' is a complex mixture of substances, derived from a natural source like meat or vegetable, but processed in a lab. It is not a whole food ingredient and is often used to create a consistent, enhanced taste profile.

Homemade stock is considered more 'natural' because it is made from whole ingredients like bones and vegetables, without any processed additives, preservatives, or chemically produced flavor enhancers. It gives you complete control over the final product.

For those seeking the most natural option from the brand, the USDA certified organic line is the best choice. While not 100% natural, it contains fewer processed additives than the conventional versions.