Is Country Time Black Cherry Lemonade Safe? Ingredient Analysis
Kraft Foods
Country Time Black Cherry Lemonade is a soft drink from Kraft Foods. It has a Zerotox safety score of 30/100, which means it has several flagged ingredients and may not suit cautious buyers.
The main ingredients worth reviewing are Sugar, Fructose, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate.
30 / 100
Why score is 30
The composition includes several synthetic additives such as artificial color (Red 40) and sweeteners like fructose. These raise significant quality and safety concerns.
Main concern
High sugar content raises concerns about excessive sweetness and potential health impacts.
Why it matters: This ingredient is flagged in our analysis based on regulatory and scientific sources. Check the Ingredients section for details and see Data sources for methodology.
Regulation status: Ingredient safety is assessed from EU/EPA/CIR and similar databases; formulations may vary. Always read the product label.
Pros
- Contains ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), which is a natural antioxidant.
- Natural flavoring is included, which may enhance taste without synthetic alternatives.
Concerns
- High sugar content raises concerns about excessive sweetness and potential health impacts.
- Presence of artificial colors (Red 40, Blue 1) indicates a highly processed product with potential health risks.
Who should avoid this product?
This soft drink may not be the best fit for:
- people with sensitive skin or fragrance sensitivity
Ingredients breakdown
Each ingredient below is explained in the context of this soft drink so the page answers more than a simple label list.
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Is Sugar safe in this soft drink?
Bad
Sugar is used here as sweetener. Sugar is a common sweetener that contributes to high caloric content and raises health concerns related to excessive consumption.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: SUGAR
-
Is Fructose safe in this soft drink?
Bad
Fructose is used here as sweetener. Fructose is a simple sugar that can contribute to metabolic issues when consumed in excess, raising concerns about its presence in this drink.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: FRUCTOSE
-
Is Citric Acid safe in this soft drink?
Medium
Citric Acid is used here as acidulant. Citric acid is used to provide tartness and preserve flavor, but its high concentration can be irritating to some individuals.
Role in formula: acidulant
Original: CITRIC ACID
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Is Ascorbic Acid safe in this soft drink?
Good
Ascorbic Acid is used here as antioxidant. Ascorbic acid serves as a natural antioxidant, helping to preserve freshness and prevent spoilage in this beverage.
Role in formula: antioxidant
Original: ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C)
-
Is Natural Flavor safe in this soft drink?
Medium
Natural Flavor is used here as flavor. Natural flavoring is used to enhance taste, but the specific components are often proprietary and can vary in quality.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: NATURAL FLAVOR
-
Is Soy Lecithin safe in this soft drink?
Medium
Soy Lecithin is used here as emulsifier. Soy lecithin acts as an emulsifier, helping to blend ingredients, but it may raise concerns for those with soy allergies.
Role in formula: emulsifier
Original: SOY LECITHIN
-
Is Maltodextrin safe in this soft drink?
Medium
Maltodextrin is used here as thickener. Maltodextrin is a thickening agent that can affect blood sugar levels and is often derived from corn or wheat, raising allergy concerns.
Role in formula: thickener
Original: MALTODEXTRIN
-
Is Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate safe in this soft drink?
Bad
Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate is used here as stabilizer. Sodium acid pyrophosphate is a synthetic stabilizer that can raise concerns due to its artificial nature and potential health effects.
Role in formula: stabilizer
Original: SODIUM ACID PYROPHOSPHATE
Read the full ingredient profile for Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate
-
Is Sodium Citrate safe in this soft drink?
Medium
Sodium Citrate is used here as buffer. Sodium citrate is used to regulate acidity but can contribute to sodium intake, raising concerns for those monitoring their salt consumption.
Role in formula: buffer
Original: SODIUM CITRATE
-
Is Magnesium Oxide safe in this soft drink?
Medium
Magnesium Oxide is used here as mineral. Magnesium oxide is included as a mineral supplement, but its effectiveness in this form can vary and may not be well absorbed.
Role in formula: mineral
Original: MAGNESIUM OXIDE
-
Is Calcium Fumarate safe in this soft drink?
Medium
Calcium Fumarate is used here as mineral. Calcium fumarate is a source of calcium but is often used in processed foods, raising questions about its bioavailability.
Role in formula: mineral
Original: CALCIUM FUMARATE
-
Is Artificial Color safe in this soft drink?
Bad
Artificial Color is used here as colorant. Artificial colors like Red 40 and Blue 1 are synthetic additives that can cause allergic reactions and other health concerns.
Role in formula: colorant
Original: ARTIFICIAL COLOR
-
Is Red 40 safe in this soft drink?
Bad
Red 40 is used here as colorant. Red 40 is a synthetic dye linked to hyperactivity in children and other health issues, raising significant safety concerns.
Role in formula: colorant
Original: RED 40
-
Is Red 40 Lake safe in this soft drink?
Bad
Red 40 Lake is used here as colorant. Red 40 lake is a more stable form of Red 40, but it carries similar health risks associated with synthetic dyes.
Role in formula: colorant
Original: RED 40 LAKE
-
Is Blue 1 safe in this soft drink?
Bad
Blue 1 is used here as colorant. Blue 1 is another synthetic dye that may pose health risks, including allergic reactions and potential behavioral effects.
Role in formula: colorant
Original: BLUE 1
How we score
Our safety scores and ingredient breakdowns are based on regulatory and scientific sources. See Data sources & methodology and How Zerotox works for full details.
Product info
Product ID: 3213506
More from this brand: Kraft Foods products in Zerotox
Similar products: soft_drink in Zerotox database
Allergens detected: soy
Report / complain: You may report errors or complain about this product or its formulation to hello [at] zeroto.app . Published for transparency.