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Pure Leaf Lemon Pure Leaf Real Brewed Tea
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Iced teas

Pure Leaf Lemon Pure Leaf Real Brewed Tea

18.5 oz

Okay out of 100 Medium confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • Contains added sugars
  • Contains caffeine
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Why it scores 42

Pure Leaf Lemon Pure Leaf Real Brewed Tea scores 42 out of 100 (Okay) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
  2. Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
  3. Sugars 6.8 g / 100 ml: Very high in sugar. Strong

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

Better bottled tea

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

The Receipt

Lemon Pure Leaf Real Brewed Tea

START100

Ingredients

  • Sugar
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • 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. [4][5]
  • Pectin
    Info An ingredient class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [5]
subtotal−25

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [5]
  • 2 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: flavoring and thickener, stabilizer or gelling agent. [5]
subtotal−19.5

Nutrition per 100 ml

  • Sugars 6.8 g / 100 ml
    Strong Very high in sugar. [1]
  • Energy 27 kcal / 100 ml
    Info Energy-dense for its volume. [2]
subtotal−14
TOTAL 42Okay

100 − 58.5 = 41.5 → 42

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

GTIN 00012000286186 · 2026-08-24

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

Medium confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 ml

Energy27 kcal
Fat0 g
Carbohydrates6.8 g
Sugars6.8 g
Added sugars6.8 g
Protein0 g
Salt0 g

Serving: 1 serving (555 g)

Ingredients

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

Brewed Tea, Sugar, Citric Acid, Natural Flavor, Pectin. CAFFEINE CONTENT 25MG/8 FL OZ

Allergens and diets

  • Palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

Healthiest iced teas in the US

More from Pure Leaf

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. 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

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

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine is Too Much?

    U.S. Food and Drug Administration · Regulator

    “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

  9. Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex III point 4.1 (beverages with high caffeine content)

    European Union (Official Journal) · Oct 25, 2011 · Law

    “‘High caffeine content. Not recommended for children or pregnant or breast-feeding women’”

    eur-lex.europa.eu