Tea-based beverages
Lipton Blood Orange
1 L/1.05 Quart
Score
- Dye with an EU warning label
- Contains synthetic dyes
- Ultra-processed
- Contains non-nutritive sweeteners
- Contains added sugars
- Contains caffeine
Why it scores 13
Lipton Blood Orange 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 6: 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 bottled tea
-
Blood Orange Brewed Iced Tea Spindrift Tea No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 99 out of 100 , 86 points higher -
Slightly Sweet Tea Gold Peak Real Brewed Tea · 52.0 fl oz No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 70 out of 100 , 57 points higher -
Organic iced green tea with peach Steaz · 16 fl oz/473 mL No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 57 out of 100 , 44 points higher -
Tazo green zen iced tea Tazo · 42 fl oz/1.31 Quart/1.24 L No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 69 out of 100 , 56 points higher -
Tea of a kind blood orange hibiscus yerba mate real brewed tea Tea of A Kind · 16 fl oz/473 mL No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 71 out of 100 , 58 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Blood Orange
Ingredients
- High fructose corn syrup minus 20 points
- Yellow 6 minus 20 points
- Red 40 minus 10 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 7 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 8 points
Nutrition per 100 ml
- Sugars 4.7 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 | 4.7 g |
| Sugars | 4.7 g |
| Added sugars | 4.7 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
| Salt | 0.1 g |
Serving: 12 fl oz (360 ml)
Ingredients
- water
- high fructose corn syrup (high concern)
- citric acid
- natural flavor
- sodium polyphosphates (to protect flavor)
- potassium citrate
- green tea facts powder
- potassium sorbate (preserves ice ner (360 ml) freshness)
- gum arabic
- ascorbic acid (to protect flavor)
- acesulfame potassium (moderate concern)
- sucralose (moderate concern)
- glycerol ester of rosin
- yellow 6 (high concern)
- calcium disodium edta (to protect flavor)
- red 40 (high concern)
- blue 1. manufactured by independent producers for the pepsi/lipton tea partnership (moderate concern)
- purchase (not recognized)
- ny 10577. per container me-hi-5cor-10¢ caffeine content: 9mg/12 fl oz (not recognized)
Label text, as published
water, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, natural flavor, sodium polyphosphates (to protect flavor), potassium citrate, green tea facts powder, potassium sorbate (preserves ice ner (360 ml) freshness), gum arabic, ascorbic acid (to protect flavor), acesulfame potassium, sucralose, glycerol ester of rosin, yellow 6, calcium disodium edta (to protect flavor), red 40, blue 1. manufactured by independent producers for the pepsi/lipton tea partnership, purchase, ny 10577. per container me-hi-5cor-10¢ caffeine content: 9mg/12 fl oz
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
-
List of Select Chemicals in the Food Supply Under FDA Review
“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
-
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
-
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
-
Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine is Too Much?
“For most adults, the FDA has cited 400 milligrams* a day — that's about two to three 12-fluid-ounce cups of coffee — as an amount not generally associated with negative effects.”
fda.gov
-
Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex III point 4.1 (beverages with high caffeine content)
“‘High caffeine content. Not recommended for children or pregnant or breast-feeding women’”
eur-lex.europa.eu