Pepsi product image with 60/100 Zerotox safety score

Is Pepsi Safe? Ingredient Analysis

Pepsi

Pepsi is one of the soft drink products analyzed by Zerotox for Pepsi. The product scores 60/100 in Zerotox, meaning it looks generally acceptable but still includes some ingredients worth reviewing.

The sections below explain why ingredients like Sulfite Ammonium Caramel, Acesulfame K, Sucralose affect the overall evaluation.

60 / 100

Moderate quality

Why score is 60

Pepsi contains acesulfame-K and sucralose as sweeteners, which are synthetic and raise quality concerns. The presence of caramel color also indicates processing.

Main concern

Acesulfame-K and sucralose are artificial sweeteners that may raise concerns about synthetic additives.

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 carbonated water, a common base for soft drinks, providing a refreshing experience.
  • Includes phosphoric acid, which adds acidity and enhances flavor profile.

Concerns

  • Acesulfame-K and sucralose are artificial sweeteners that may raise concerns about synthetic additives.
  • Caramel color (sulfite-ammonium caramel) is a processed colorant that can indicate a highly processed product.

Who should avoid this product?

This product may be less suitable for:

  • people with sensitive skin or fragrance sensitivity

Ingredients breakdown

Instead of a flat list, this section explains each ingredient in the context of this soft drink.

  • Is Carbonated Water safe in this soft drink?

    Good

    Carbonated Water is used here as base. Carbonated water serves as the primary ingredient, providing the drink's effervescence and refreshing quality.

    Role in formula: base

    Original: koolzuurhoudend water

    Read the full ingredient profile for Carbonated Water

  • Is Sugar safe in this soft drink?

    Medium

    Sugar is used here as sweetener. Sugar is a common sweetener that contributes to the drink's sweetness but raises concerns due to its high caloric content.

    Role in formula: sweetener

    Original: suiker

    Read the full ingredient profile for Sugar

  • Is Sulfite Ammonium Caramel safe in this soft drink?

    Bad

    Sulfite Ammonium Caramel is used here as colorant. Sulfite-ammonium caramel is a synthetic colorant used for aesthetic purposes, raising concerns about artificial additives.

    Role in formula: colorant

    Original: kleurstof (sulfiet-ammoniakkaramel)

  • Is Aromas safe in this soft drink?

    Medium

    Aromas is used here as flavor. Aromas, including caffeine, enhance the flavor profile but may include processed components that raise quality concerns.

    Role in formula: flavor

    Original: aroma's (bevat cafeïne)

    Read the full ingredient profile for Aromas

  • Is Phosphoric Acid safe in this soft drink?

    Medium

    Phosphoric Acid is used here as acidulant. Phosphoric acid adds acidity to the drink, enhancing flavor but also raising concerns about its synthetic nature.

    Role in formula: acidulant

    Original: voedingszuur (fosforzuur)

    Read the full ingredient profile for Phosphoric Acid

  • Is Acesulfame K safe in this soft drink?

    Bad

    Acesulfame K is used here as sweetener. Acesulfame-K is an artificial sweetener that raises concerns due to its synthetic origin and potential health implications.

    Role in formula: sweetener

    Original: zoetstoffen (acesulfaam-K

    Read the full ingredient profile for Acesulfame K

  • Is Sucralose safe in this soft drink?

    Bad

    Sucralose is used here as sweetener. Sucralose is another artificial sweetener that may raise concerns about synthetic additives and their long-term effects.

    Role in formula: sweetener

    Original: sucralose

    Read the full ingredient profile for Sucralose

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: 4211819

More from this brand: Pepsi products in Zerotox

Similar products: soft_drink in Zerotox database

Report / complain: You may report errors or complain about this product or its formulation to hello [at] zeroto.app . Published for transparency.

Frequently asked questions

Our analysis notes: Contains carbonated water, a common base for soft drinks, providing a refreshing experience.; Includes phosphoric acid, which adds acidity and enhances flavor profile.. See the Pros section above.
Browse soft drink products on Zerotox with ingredient analysis.
Pepsi — Pepsi has a Zerotox safety score of 60 / 100. Check the ingredient breakdown above. More Pepsi products. Scores are informational only and do not constitute professional advice; always read the label and consult a qualified professional.
Browse Pepsi products on Zerotox with ingredient analysis and safety scores.
Pepsi contains acesulfame-K and sucralose as sweeteners, which are synthetic and raise quality concerns. The presence of caramel color also indicates processing. Scores are informational only and do not constitute professional advice; always read the label and consult a qualified professional.
Pepsi — Pepsi has a Zerotox safety score of 60 / 100. Higher scores mean fewer concerning ingredients. Scores are informational only and do not constitute professional advice; always read the label and consult a qualified professional.
This depends on the ingredient profile. People with sensitive skin or scalp, users avoiding fragrance, sulfates or animal-derived ingredients, and cautious shoppers should review the breakdown above before buying. Scores are informational only and do not constitute professional advice; always read the label and consult a qualified professional.
Our analysis flags fragrance in this product. See the Ingredients section above. Search products with this ingredient.
Zerotox scores are based on ingredients. See the full breakdown above. Scores are informational only and do not constitute professional advice; always read the label and consult a qualified professional.
This product includes positive or neutral ingredients such as: carbonated water. See the Ingredients section above.
Yes. Our analysis indicates fragrance or parfum. This can irritate sensitive skin. See the Ingredients section.
We do not detect parabens in this product's listed ingredients. Always check the label as formulations change.