Sprite is the refreshing, caffeine-free lemon-lime carbonated beverage made by the Coca-Cola Bottling Company. It is a competitor with another lemon-lime soda, 7-UP. Sprite continues to be a popular soda around the world, but is it a good choice for vegans?
Sprite is considered vegan as it does not contain any obvious animal-derived ingredients. However, it contains some questionable ingredients such as natural flavors and artificial colors. Additionally, some flavors contain ester gum food stabilizer and in turn glycerol, an additive which can be sourced from animals. The best healthier and vegan alternative to Sprite is Zevia Lemon Lime Twist.
In this article we’ll look at the origins of the Sprite beverage, how it is made, and some of the flavor varieties offered. We’ll also discuss why the beverage is not good for you, and offer some vegan-friendly alternatives as healthier options. Let’s dig in!
Contents
How Sprite is made
Originally developed in West Germany in 1959, as part of the Fanta line of beverages, Sprite began its life known as Clear Lemon Fanta. In 1961, it was introduced to the U.S. market under the new name of Sprite.
Sprite, like most carbonated beverages, starts out as water.
- First the water is clarified, as the quality of the water is what makes a soda successful. Any type of impurities can negatively alter the taste of the beverage. The water goes through three processes — coagulation, filtration, and then chlorination.
- After this process, the water is dechlorinated by using an activated carbon filter.
- Then, the water is de-aerated, before the dissolved sugar and flavor concentrates are added. This process is done with sophisticated machinery, which proportions the flow rate and the ratios of the liquids being mixed.
- Finally, the beverage is carbonated, where temperature control is most important since the carbon dioxide solubility will increase as the temperature decreases.
Harmful Ingredients in Sprite
There are many ingredients used to make Sprite which are not only non-vegan, but also can cause health issues in people.
Sugar
In a single serving of Sprite, which is one can, there is a whopping 38 grams of high fructose corn syrup! On a 2,000 calorie a day diet, it is recommended that you don’t consume more than 50 grams of added sugars. This means that in just one serving of Sprite, there is 76% of the daily recommended intake–in a single serving of an empty-calorie beverage.
This high intake of sugar is not good for you, because of the “crash” it causes once the “rush” of the sugar into your body finishes. This rush is what happens when you eat a large amount of sugar in a short amount of time. It produces increased energy for a short time, but once it wears off, leads to dizziness, hunger and fatigue.
For the zero calorie flavors of Sprite, (Sprite Zero, Sprite Ginger Zero, Sprite Cherry Zero), there is aspartame, or phenylalanine. This additive, used as a sweetener, has been shown to cause health problems, such as brain damage, intellectual disabilities, and seizures.
Natural and Artificial Colors and Flavors
Other ingredients, used in Sprite, which are cause for concern are the natural and artificial colors and flavors. Artificial and natural flavors can be both animal-based and plant-based. An important things to know about these flavors and colors is that they are usually chemically altered, or derived from a mixture of different chemicals put together. There is also a vegan concern with the use of natural and artificial colorings and flavorings, because many of them go through safety testing on animals and this goes against the vegan pledge to do no harm.
GMOs
The Coca-Cola company website is very transparent in stating that their carbonated beverages contain ingredients which are genetically modified.
There is concern that GMOs can have negative effects on human health. This can be contributed to the differences in nutritional content, responses which are triggered by allergic reactions, and toxicity to internal organs.
Flavors of Sprite
Sprite Original Lemon Lime
Ingredients:
- Carbonated Water
- High Fructose Corn Syrup
- Citric Acid
- Natural Flavors
- Sodium Citrate
- Sodium Benzoate (To Protect Taste)
Nutrition Facts (for 12 oz serving):
- 140 – Calories
- 0 g – Total Fat
- 0 g – Saturated Fat
- 0 g – Trans Fat
- 0 mg – Cholesterol
- 65 mg – Sodium
- 38 g – Total Carbohydrate
- 0 g – Dietary Fiber
- 38 g – Sugars – Includes 38 g of added sugars
- 0 g – Protein
Sprite Ginger Zero Sugar
Ingredients:
- Carbonated Water
- Citric Acid
- Potassium Citrate
- Natural Flavors
- Potassium Benzoate (To Protect Taste)
- Aspartame
- Acesulfame Potassium
- Phenylketonurics: contains Phenylalanine
Nutrition Facts (for 12 oz serving):
- 0 – Calories
- 0 g – Total Fat
- 0 g – Saturated Fat
- 0 g – Trans Fat
- 0 mg – Cholesterol
- 35 mg – Sodium
- 0 g – Total Carbohydrate
- 0 g – Dietary Fiber
- 0 g – Sugars
- 0 g – Protein
Sprite Lymonade
Ingredients:
- Carbonated Water
- High Fructose Corn Syrup
- Clarified Lemon Juice From Concentrate
- Citric Acid
- Natural Flavors
- Sodium Benzoate (To Protect Taste)
- Sodium Citrate
- Potassium Sorbate (To Protect Taste)
- Modified Food Starch
- Glycerol Ester Of Rosin
- Yellow 5
Nutrition Facts (for 12 oz serving):
- 130 – Calories
- 0 g – Total Fat
- 0 g – Saturated Fat
- 0 g – Trans Fat
- 0 mg – Cholesterol
- 65 mg – Sodium
- 35 g – Total Carbohydrate
- 0 g – Dietary Fiber
- 34 g – Sugars – Includes 34 grams of added sugar
- 0 g – Protein
Alternative vegan lemon lime beverages
Zevia Lemon Lime Twist
The Zevia brand of lemon lime soda is gluten-free, kosher, vegan, and low in sugar content.
Ingredients:
- Carbonated Water
- Citric Acid
- Natural Flavors
- Stevia Leaf Extract
Nutrition Facts (per 1 can / 355ml serving):
- 0 Calories
- 0g Fat
- 0mg Sodium
- 0g Carbohydrates
- 0g Protein
Virgil’s Zero Sugar Lemon Lime
Zero calories and sugar make Virgil’s brand of lemon lime soda safe for those on the keto diet. Free of artificial colors or flavors and Non-GMO, all of Virgil’s sodas are also vegan-friendly.
Ingredients:
- Sparkling Filtered Water
- Sweetener Blend (Erythritol, Stevia Leaf Extract, Monk Fruit Extract)
- Natural Flavors
- Caramel Color
- Citric Acid
Nutrition Facts (per 1 can / 355ml serving):
- 0 Calories
- 0 g Fat
- 0 mg Sodium
- 12 g Carbohydrates
- 12 g Erythritol
- 0 g Protein
OLIPOP – Ginger Lemon Sparkling Tonic
A prebiotic soda which contains botanicals and plant fibers, the Olipop brand is a soda which is actually good for your digestive health. Each flavor of their brand of soda is Non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free, paleo, & keto-friendly. They contain no artificial sweeteners, colors, flavors, or preservatives.
Ingredients:
- Purified Water
- Ginger Juice
- Olismart (Chicory Root (Extract)
- Jerusalem Artichoke (Extract)
- Kudzu Root (Extract)
- Cassava Fiber
- Cassava Syrup
- Marshmallow Root (Extract)
- Slippery Elm Bark (Extract)
- Nopal Cactus (Extract
- Calendula Flower (Extract)
- Apple Juice
- Lemon Juice
- Cassia Cinnamon
- Stevia (Extract)
- Pink Rock Salt
- Ginger Essence (Extract)
- Mulled Spice Flavor (Extract)
Nutrition Facts (per 1 can / 12 ounce serving):
- 35 Calories
- 0 g Fat
- 25 mg Sodium
- 13 g Carbohydrates
- 9 g Dietary Fiber
- 0 g Protein
New Wave Natural Sparkling Soda Water
Flavored with real organic fruit juices, keto-friendly, gluten-free, and vegan, the New Wave brand of sparkling soda water is low in calories and sugar.
Ingredients:
- Sparkling Water
- Tangerine Juice Concentrate
- Pear Juice Concentrate
- Lemon Juice Concentrate
- Ascorbic Acid
- Caffeine
- Natural Flavor
- Beta-Carotene (color)
Nutrition Facts (per 1 can / 12 ounce serving):
- 25 Calories
- 0 g Fat
- 25 mg Sodium
- 6 g Carbohydrates
- 9 g Dietary Fiber
- 5 g Sugars
- 0 g Protein
Clean Cause Lemon Lime Organic Sparkling Yerba Mate
Low in sugar and calories, the Clean Cause brand of sparkling soda is vegan and certified organic. And an added bonus for their brand, 50% of their profits go towards addiction recovery for people.
Ingredients:
- Purified Sparkling Water
- Organic Cane Sugar
- Organic Erythritol
- Organic Yerba Mane Extract
- Organic Lemon Juice Concentrate
- Citric Acid
- Organic Lemon Extract
- Organic Lime Extract
- Organic Lemon Emulsion
- Organic Stevia Extract
Nutrition Facts (per 1/2 can / 8 ounce serving):
- 30 Calories
- 0 g Fat
- 5 mg Sodium
- 8 g Carbohydrates
- 0 g Dietary Fiber
- 8 g Sugars
- 0 g Protein
Final Thoughts
Sprite, while containing seemingly vegan-friendly ingredients, still contains questionable ingredients, like high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors and flavors, and genetically modified ingredients. All of these ingredients make it difficult to claim that the popular carbonated beverage is completely able to be considered vegan. There are other brands, mentioned in this article, which are completely vegan-friendly, and are much safer and healthier for consumption, albeit, in moderation, as most sodas do not contain absolute nutritional value.
Related Questions
Is Sprite gluten-free?
Sprite contains no gluten-containing ingredients, such as wheat, rye or barley, so it is a gluten-free beverage.
Is Sprite nothing but sugar?
Pretty much. Each 12 ounce serving (1 can) of Sprite contains over 75% of the recommended daily allowance for sugar, based on a 2000 calorie a day diet. If you are eating fewer calories each day, this percentage increases.
Is Sprite keto-friendly?
Sprite is packed with both sugar and carbs, making it a non-keto-friendly drink.