Zevia

Flavor:

Cream Soda

Ingredients:

Carbonated Water, Stevia Leaf Extract, Natural Flavors, Citric Acid

Rating: Average

Ingredient Score:

This product earns a 3/5 green leaves rating. Zevia Cream Soda is positioned as a cleaner option in the realm of soft drinks, offering a formula that relies on non-GMO ingredients and stevia leaf extract for sweetness. The beverage abstains from using organic ingredients, which detracts from its potential for a higher rating. Moreover, the inclusion of stevia, while a natural sweetener, leads to a deduction due to the website’s criteria that penalize added sugars. The term ‘natural flavors’ also contributes to a lower score because of the ambiguity surrounding this ingredient; it often encompasses a range of substances that are not always transparent to the consumer.

Zevia Cream Soda’s ingredient list is concise, featuring carbonated water, stevia leaf extract, natural flavors, and citric acid. The absence of organic certification results in a score reduction, reflecting the product’s distance from the highest standards of clean eating. The use of stevia leaf extract, while a plant-based sweetener, is considered less favorable compared to not having any sweeteners at all. Citric acid, commonly used for flavor and preservation, does not significantly impact the score.

The most substantial deduction comes from the inclusion of ‘natural flavors,’ a broad category that lacks specificity and can mask a variety of substances, some of which may not align with the ethos of cleaner food options. Despite these points of concern, Zevia Cream Soda is acknowledged for its commitment to non-GMO ingredients, a positive aspect for consumers seeking to avoid genetically modified organisms.

The product is deemed average within its category. It manages to avoid some of the pitfalls of conventional soft drinks but does not rise to the top tier of health-conscious offerings. Shoppers looking for a moderate alternative to sugary sodas may find Zevia Cream Soda an acceptable choice, though it falls short of the highest clean food standards due to its non-organic composition and the presence of additives such as natural flavors.