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Bubbl'R Watermelon lime smash’r
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Artificially sweetened beverages

Bubbl'R Watermelon lime smash’r

12 fl oz

Okay out of 100 High confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • Contains non-nutritive sweeteners
  • Contains sugar alcohols
  • Contains caffeine
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Why it scores 55

Bubbl'R Watermelon lime smash’r scores 55 out of 100 (Okay) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
  2. Erythritol: A 2023 study linked higher blood erythritol to cardiovascular events and found it increased clotting activity; long-term safety studies are warranted. Strong
  3. Potassium benzoate: Benzoates can form small amounts of benzene in drinks that also contain ascorbic acid (vitamin C), especially with heat or light. Strong

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

Better sparkling water

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

The Receipt

Watermelon lime smash’r

START100

Ingredients

  • Erythritol
    Strong A 2023 study linked higher blood erythritol to cardiovascular events and found it increased clotting activity; long-term safety studies are warranted. [1][2]
  • Potassium benzoate
    Strong Benzoates can form small amounts of benzene in drinks that also contain ascorbic acid (vitamin C), especially with heat or light. [3]
  • Stevia (steviol glycosides)
    Emerging WHO (2023) recommends against using non-sugar sweeteners to control body weight (conditional recommendation); US dietary guidelines advise limiting them. [4][5]
  • Pectin
    Info An ingredient class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [6]
  • Caffeine
    Strong The FDA cites 400 mg a day as generally safe for most adults; EFSA advises no more than 200 mg a day in pregnancy. [7][8]
  • Potassium sorbate
    Strong EFSA (2019) set a group ADI of 11 mg/kg body weight (as sorbic acid); generally recognized as safe in the US. [9][10]
  • 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. [11][6]
subtotal−22.5

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [6]
  • 4 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: flavoring, non-nutritive sweetener, sugar alcohol (polyol) and thickener, stabilizer or gelling agent. [6]
subtotal−22.5
TOTAL 55Okay

100 − 45 = 55

GTIN 00028435600459 · 2026-07-21

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

High confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 ml

Energy1 kcal
Fat0 g
Saturated fat0 g
Carbohydrates2.3 g
Sugars0 g
Added sugars0 g
Fiber0 g
Protein0 g
Salt0 g

Serving: 355 mL

Ingredients

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

Carbonated water, erythritol, citric acid, potassium benzoate, stevia leaf extract, pectin, vegetable juice, sodium citrate, caffeine, fruit juice, potassium sorbate, natural flavor, niacinamide, d-calcium pantothenate, guarana seed extract, vitamin A palmitate, pyridoxine HCl, cyanocobalamin.

Allergens and diets

  • Palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

Healthiest artificially sweetened beverages in the US

More from Bubbl'R

Sources

  1. The artificial sweetener erythritol and cardiovascular event risk

    Nature Medicine · March 2023 · Peer-reviewed

    “Our findings reveal that erythritol is both associated with incident MACE risk and fosters enhanced thrombosis. Studies assessing the long-term safety of erythritol are warranted.”

    doi.org

  2. Re-evaluation of erythritol (E 968) as a food additive (plain language summary)

    European Food Safety Authority · Dec 20, 2023 · Agency assessment

    “In all groups of people, both acute and chronic exposure to erythritol is above the newly set ADI.”

    efsa.europa.eu

  3. Benzene production from decarboxylation of benzoic acid in the presence of ascorbic acid and a transition-metal catalyst

    Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry · May 1993 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  4. WHO advises not to use non-sugar sweeteners for weight control in newly released guideline

    World Health Organization · May 15, 2023 · Agency assessment

    “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

  5. 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

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

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  7. 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

  8. Caffeine (EFSA topic page; Scientific Opinion on the safety of caffeine, 2015)

    European Food Safety Authority · May 27, 2015 · Agency assessment

    “Caffeine intakes from all sources up to 200mg per day consumed throughout the day do not raise safety concerns for the foetus.”

    efsa.europa.eu

  9. Opinion on the follow-up of the re-evaluation of sorbic acid (E200) and potassium sorbate (E202) as food additives

    European Food Safety Authority · Mar 1, 2019 · Agency assessment

    “By applying a default uncertainty factor of 100, the Panel established a group ADI expressed as 11 mg sorbic acid/kg bw per day for sorbic acid (E 200) and its potassium salt (E 202).”

    doi.org

  10. 21 CFR 182.3640 Potassium sorbate

    Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), U.S. Office of the Federal Register · Nov 22, 2016 · Law

    ecfr.gov

  11. 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

  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

  14. Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex III point 2.4 (foods with more than 10 % added polyols)

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

    “‘excessive consumption may produce laxative effects’.”

    eur-lex.europa.eu

  15. 21 CFR 184.1835 Sorbitol

    Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), U.S. Office of the Federal Register · Nov 22, 2016 · Law

    ““Excess consumption may have a laxative effect.””

    ecfr.gov

  16. 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