Is Pre-Packaged Cold Coffee To Go Safe? Ingredient Analysis
Costa
Pre-Packaged Cold Coffee To Go is one of the soft drink products analyzed by Zerotox for Costa. 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 Carrageenan affect the overall evaluation.
60 / 100
Why score is 60
This cold coffee contains semi-skimmed milk and coffee extract, but also includes carrageenan and sugar, raising concerns about synthetic additives and high sugar content.
Main concern
Carrageenan is a thickener that may raise concerns due to potential digestive issues.
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 semi-skimmed milk, providing a source of calcium and protein.
- Coffee extract offers a natural flavor and caffeine content.
- Gellan gum acts as a stabilizer, improving texture and consistency.
- Natural flavorings enhance the overall taste profile.
Concerns
- Carrageenan is a thickener that may raise concerns due to potential digestive issues.
- Sugar content could contribute to excessive sweetness and health concerns.
- Potassium carbonate as an acidity regulator may indicate processing.
- Presence of stabilizers suggests a more processed product.
Who should avoid this product?
This product may be less suitable for:
- people with sensitive skin or fragrance sensitivity
- people avoiding animal-derived ingredients
Ingredients breakdown
Instead of a flat list, this section explains each ingredient in the context of this soft drink.
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Is Semi Skimmed Milk safe in this soft drink?
Good
Semi Skimmed Milk is used here as base. Semi-skimmed milk serves as the primary base, providing hydration and essential nutrients like calcium and protein.
Role in formula: base
Original: Semi-Skimmed Milk
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Is Coffee Extract safe in this soft drink?
Good
Coffee Extract is used here as flavor. Coffee extract contributes to the beverage's flavor and caffeine content, enhancing the overall coffee experience.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: Coffee Extract
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Is Sugar safe in this soft drink?
Medium
Sugar is used here as sweetener. Sugar is added for sweetness, but its high content raises concerns about potential health impacts when consumed in excess.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: Sugar
-
Is Potassium Carbonate safe in this soft drink?
Medium
Potassium Carbonate is used here as acidulant. Potassium carbonate is used to regulate acidity, but its presence indicates a level of processing that may not be ideal.
Role in formula: acidulant
Original: Potassium Carbonates
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Is Gellan Gum safe in this soft drink?
Medium
Gellan Gum is used here as stabilizer. Gellan gum is a stabilizer that helps maintain texture, though it is a processed ingredient that may raise quality concerns.
Role in formula: stabilizer
Original: Gellan Gum
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Is Carrageenan safe in this soft drink?
Bad
Carrageenan is used here as stabilizer. Carrageenan is a thickener that has been linked to digestive issues in some individuals, raising safety concerns.
Role in formula: stabilizer
Original: Carrageenan
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Is Natural Flavorings safe in this soft drink?
Medium
Natural Flavorings is used here as flavor. Natural flavorings enhance taste but can be vague in origin, leading to uncertainty about their quality and safety.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: Natural Flavourings
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: 3981962
More from this brand: Costa products in Zerotox
Similar products: soft_drink in Zerotox database
Allergens detected: milk
Report / complain: You may report errors or complain about this product or its formulation to hello [at] zeroto.app . Published for transparency.