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Coca Cola
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Cola with sugar

Coca Cola

450 mL

Poor out of 100 Medium confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • Contains added sugars
  • No synthetic dyes
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Why it scores 20

Coca Cola scores 20 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
  2. Sulfite ammonia caramel: Caramel colors made with ammonia (classes III and IV) can contain 4-MEI. Regulatory
  3. Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong

Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.

Better sodas

The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.

The Receipt

Coca Cola

START100

Ingredients

  • Sugar
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Sulfite ammonia caramel
    Regulatory Caramel colors made with ammonia (classes III and IV) can contain 4-MEI. [4][5][6][7][8]
  • Phosphoric acid
    Strong EFSA (2019) set a group ADI for phosphates of 40 mg/kg body weight (as phosphorus) and noted that infants, toddlers and children may exceed it. [9]
  • Natural flavors
    Info "Natural flavor" is a legal category (21 CFR 101.22(a)(3)): flavor substances from spices, fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy or fermentation. [10][11]
subtotal−44

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [11]
  • 2 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: color (added) and flavoring. [11]
subtotal−19.5

Nutrition per 100 ml

  • Sugars 10.6 g / 100 ml
    Strong Very high in sugar. [1]
  • Energy 42 kcal / 100 ml
    Info Energy-dense for its volume. [2]
subtotal−17
TOTAL 20Poor

100 − 80.5 = 19.5 → 20

Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

GTIN 00000042105220 · 2026-07-28

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

Medium confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 ml

Energy42 kcal
Fat0 g
Saturated fat0 g
Carbohydrates10.6 g
Sugars10.6 g
Added sugars5.3 g
Protein0 g
Salt0 g

Serving: 450ml

Ingredients

High Moderate Not recognized Tap an ingredient for its evidence and rules.
Label text, as published

water, sugar, carbonic acid, e150d, e338, natural flavors including caffeine

Packaging

Pp 5 polypropylene, Hdpe 2 high density polyethylene, Rpet recycled polyethylene terephthalate

Context only: no points in v1.

More from Coca-Cola

Sources

  1. Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children

    World Health Organization · Mar 4, 2015 · Agency assessment

    “In both adults and children, WHO recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake”

    who.int

  2. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030

    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture · January 2026 · Regulator

    “Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”

    cdn.realfood.gov

  3. Added and free sugars should be as low as possible

    European Food Safety Authority · Feb 28, 2022 · Agency assessment

    “Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”

    efsa.europa.eu

  4. Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)

    International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO) · IARC

    monographs.iarc.who.int

  5. Questions & Answers About 4-MEI

    U.S. Food and Drug Administration · Mar 27, 2020 · Regulator

    “Based on current science, the FDA has no reason to believe that there are any immediate or short-term health risks presented by 4-MEI at the levels expected in food.”

    fda.gov

  6. List of Select Chemicals in the Food Supply Under FDA Review

    U.S. Food and Drug Administration · Jul 29, 2026 · Regulator

    “The table below includes select food ingredients (including food and color additives), food contact substances, and contaminants under FDA review as of May 12, 2026 .”

    fda.gov

  7. Caramel Color in Soft Drinks and Exposure to 4-Methylimidazole: A Quantitative Risk Assessment

    PLOS ONE · Feb 18, 2015 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  8. Proposition 65 List of Chemicals Known to the State to Cause Cancer or Reproductive Toxicity

    California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) · Jul 31, 2026 · Law

    “The date refers to the initial appearance of the chemical on the list.”

    oehha.ca.gov

  9. EFSA issues new advice on phosphates

    European Food Safety Authority · Jun 12, 2019 · Agency assessment

    “We estimated that dietary exposure to phosphates may exceed the new ADI for infants, toddlers and children with average consumption of phosphates in their diet.”

    efsa.europa.eu

  10. 21 CFR 101.22 Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives

    Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), U.S. Office of the Federal Register · Dec 19, 2016 · Law

    “whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”

    ecfr.gov

  11. Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  12. Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analyses

    BMJ · Feb 28, 2024 · Peer-reviewed

    “Greater exposure to ultra-processed food was associated with a higher risk of adverse health outcomes, especially cardiometabolic, common mental disorder, and mortality outcomes.”

    doi.org

  13. Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain: An Inpatient Randomized Controlled Trial of Ad Libitum Food Intake

    Cell Metabolism · July 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org