Sodas
Brisk Lemonade
1 L
Score
- Dye with an EU warning label
- Contains synthetic dyes
- Ultra-processed
- Contains non-nutritive sweeteners
- Contains added sugars
Why it scores 13
Brisk Lemonade scores 13 out of 100 (Bad) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points High fructose corn syrup: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 20 points Yellow 5: In the EU and UK, foods with this color must state that it "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children". Regulatory
- minus 18 points 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 lemonade
-
Half Tea & Half Lemonade Just Ice Tea No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 62 out of 100 , 49 points higher -
Berry Berry Good Lemonade Honest Kids · 8 pouches No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 52 out of 100 , 39 points higher -
Iced Tea Lemonade Brew Dr. Kombucha No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 74 out of 100 , 61 points higher -
Mint Limeade Health-Ade Kombucha · 16 fl oz (473 mL) No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 56 out of 100 , 43 points higher -
Iced Tea Lemonade Brew Dr. No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 69 out of 100 , 56 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Brisk Lemonade
Ingredients
- High fructose corn syrup minus 20 points
- Yellow 5 minus 20 points
- Potassium benzoate minus 7.5 points
- Acesulfame potassium (Ace-K) minus 2.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 7 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 8 points
Nutrition per 100 ml
- Sugars 4.6 g / 100 ml minus 9 points
- Energy 19 kcal / 100 ml minus 2 points
100 − 87 = 13
Can’t score above 79. Contains high fructose corn syrup, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]
Nutrition per 100 ml
| Energy | 19 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 0 g |
| Saturated fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 4.6 g |
| Sugars | 4.6 g |
| Added sugars | 4.6 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
| Salt | 0.1 g |
Serving: 8 OZA (240 ml)
Ingredients
- Water
- high fructose corn syrup (high concern)
- citric acid
- lemon juice concentrate
- sodium polyphosphates (to protect flavor)
- potassium benzoate and potassium sorbate (preserve freshness) (moderate concern)
- gum arabic
- salt
- glycerol ester of rosin
- natural flavor
- acesulfame potassium (moderate concern)
- sucralose (moderate concern)
- calcium disodium edta (to protect flavor)
- yellow 5 (high concern)
Label text, as published
Water, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, lemon juice concentrate, sodium polyphosphates (to protect flavor), potassium benzoate and potassium sorbate (preserve freshness), gum arabic, salt, glycerol ester of rosin, natural flavor, acesulfame potassium, sucralose, calcium disodium edta (to protect flavor), yellow 5.
Allergens and diets
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
Sources
-
Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children
“In both adults and children, WHO recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake”
who.int
-
Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030
“Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”
cdn.realfood.gov
-
Added and free sugars should be as low as possible
“Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
21 CFR 184.1866 High fructose corn syrup
“a sweet, nutritive saccharide mixture containing either approximately 42 or 55 percent fructose”
ecfr.gov
-
Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of 16 December 2008 on food additives
“may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
“may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.”
legislation.gov.uk
-
“Artificial colours or a sodium benzoate preservative (or both) in the diet result in increased hyperactivity in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the general population.”
doi.org
-
Tracking Food Industry Pledges to Remove Petroleum Based Food Dyes
“FD&C Green No. 3, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 5, FD&C Yellow No. 6, FD&C Blue No. 1, and FD&C Blue No. 2—by the end of 2027.”
fda.gov
-
California AB 2316 (2024), Pupil nutrition: substances: prohibition
“beginning December 31, 2027, would prohibit a school district, county superintendent of schools, or charter school”
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
-
21 CFR 74.705 FD&C Yellow No. 5
“shall specifically declare the presence of FD&C Yellow No. 5 by listing the color additive as FD&C Yellow No. 5 among the list of ingredients.”
ecfr.gov
-
Artificial sweeteners and cancer risk: Results from the NutriNet-Santé population-based cohort study
“In this large cohort study, artificial sweeteners (especially aspartame and acesulfame-K), which are used in many food and beverage brands worldwide, were associated with increased cancer risk.”
doi.org
-
Re-evaluation of acesulfame K (E 950) as food additive (plain language summary)
“The acceptable daily intake (ADI) considered safe for all population groups was set at 15 mg/kg body weight (bw) per day.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
WHO advises not to use non-sugar sweeteners for weight control in newly released guideline
“The recommendation is based on the findings of a systematic review of the available evidence which suggests that use of NSS does not confer any long-term benefit in reducing body fat in adults or children.”
who.int
-
HHS, FDA to Phase Out Petroleum-Based Synthetic Dyes in Nation’s Food Supply (press release)
“Initiating the process to revoke authorization for two synthetic food colorings—Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B—within the coming months.”
fda.gov
-
“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