Panera Bread
Flavor:
Blood Orange Charged Splash - Zero Sugar!
Ingredients:
Blood Orange Flavored Drink Blend (Water, Caffeinated Blood Orange Naturally Flavored Beverage Base (Water, Allulose, Citric Acid, Yerba Mate Concentrate, Caffeine, Beta Carotene (Color), Rebaudioside M, Green Coffee Extract [Source Of Caffeine], Salt, Ascorbic Acid, Guarana Extract [Source Of Caffeine], Natural Blood Orange Flavors With Other Natural Flavors)
Rating: Average
- 3 out of 5
Ingredient Score:
Rated at 3/5 green leaves, the Panera Bread Blood Orange Charged Splash – Zero Sugar! positions itself as a moderate choice for those seeking cleaner food options. The product is a caffeinated beverage that blends the zest of blood orange with natural flavors and an array of added extracts and compounds to create a zero-sugar drink.
The absence of organic certification contributes to its middle-of-the-road ranking. This factor alone removes 10 points from its perfect score, as our criteria prioritize organic products due to their lower impact on the environment and reduced exposure to pesticides. Similarly, the product’s non-GMO status is unclear, resulting in an additional 10-point deduction. For consumers prioritizing non-GMO foods, this lack of clarity may raise concerns about the potential inclusion of genetically modified ingredients.
Allulose, a low-calorie sweetener found in the beverage, is recognized as an added sugar and leads to another 10-point deduction. Although it is a sugar substitute often used in zero-sugar products, its classification as an added sugar affects the product’s overall healthfulness score. Citric acid, another ingredient, can be both naturally occurring and artificially added, but in this context, it is grouped with added sugars, impacting the score negatively.
The product also loses points for containing natural flavors. While “natural flavors” can be derived from natural sources, they are still considered additives. The term is broad and can sometimes mask a cocktail of ingredients, making it difficult for consumers to determine what exactly they are consuming. As such, the inclusion of natural flavors results in a 20-point reduction.
Despite these deductions, the Panera Bread Blood Orange Charged Splash – Zero Sugar! manages to maintain a middle-ground position with its 3/5 green leaves rating. It offers an option for those looking for a zero-sugar, caffeinated drink without reaching the higher echelons of healthfulness due to the points noted above. The beverage serves as an alternative in a market saturated with less healthy options, yet it does not fully embrace the pinnacle of clean eating standards.
Certifications:
None
Product formulations and certifications may change. For current nutrition facts and ingredient
line information, check product packaging.
Categories:
None
Alternatives
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