7-Up

Flavor:

Zero Sugar

Ingredients:

Filtered Carbonated Water, Citric Acid, Potassium Citrate, Sodium benzoate (Preservative), Aspartame, Acesulfame potassium (Ace-K, acesulfame K), Natural Flavors, Calcium Disodium EDTA (To Protect Flavor)

Rating: We Avoid

Ingredient Score:

7-Up Zero Sugar earns a rating of 1/5 green leaves on our clean food scale, signaling that it falls short of our standards for healthier food options. This product is not organic and contains genetically modified ingredients, which contribute to its low score. Moreover, despite its ‘Zero Sugar’ label, it includes ingredients like citric acid, which is categorized as an added sugar in our evaluation system.

The inclusion of artificial sweeteners such as aspartame and acesulfame potassium raises concerns due to their potential health implications. These sweeteners, often used as sugar substitutes, have been linked to negative health effects in some studies, although they are approved for use and considered safe by regulatory agencies like the FDA. Nonetheless, our scoring reflects a cautious approach to these ingredients.

Additionally, the use of general terms like ‘natural flavors’ can obscure the actual substances present in the product, which is why we penalize this lack of transparency. The presence of calcium disodium EDTA, a preservative aimed at maintaining flavor, also contributes to the deduction of points due to its classification as a potentially harmful additive.

7-Up Zero Sugar is not recommended based on our criteria. The product contains several ingredients that we have identified as potentially harmful or undesirable in a cleaner diet, such as artificial sweeteners and ambiguous flavoring agents. Its non-organic nature and use of GMOs further distance it from the ideal of clean eating that we promote. Consumers seeking healthier beverage options may want to consider alternatives that align better with the principles of natural, organic, and additive-free products.