Food
Ricola - Original Natural Herb Cough Drops
1 Drop
Score
- Ultra-processed
- Contains added sugars
- No additives
Why it scores 57
Ricola - Original Natural Herb Cough Drops scores 57 out of 100 (Okay) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 18 points Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
- minus 2.5 points Menthol (flavor): An ingredient class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). Info
Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.
Better hard candy and mints
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Ricola - Original Natural Herb Cough Drops
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Menthol (flavor) minus 2.5 points
- Natural flavors minus 2.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
100 − 43 = 57
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 17 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 0 g |
| Saturated fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 4 g |
| Sugars | 3 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
| Salt | 0 g |
Ingredients
- drug facts active ingredient (in each drop) menthol
- 4.8 mg. purposes cough suppressant (not recognized)
- oral anesthetic uses temporarily rolieves: * cough due to a cold or inhaled irrtants occasional minor iritation and pain due to sore throat or sore mouth warnings sore throat warnings: if sore throat is severe (not recognized)
- persists for more than 2 days (not recognized)
- is accompanied or followed by fever (not recognized)
- headache (not recognized)
- rash (not recognized)
- swelling (not recognized)
- nausea (not recognized)
- or vomiting (not recognized)
- consult a doctor promptly. these may be serious. do not use in children under 6 years of age unless directed by a doctor. relief ask a doctor before use if you have persistent or chronic cough such as occurs with smoking (not recognized)
- asthma (not recognized)
- or emphysema cough accompanied by excessive phiegm (mucus) been oducts stop use and ask a doctor if cough persists for more than 1 week (not recognized)
- tends to recur (not recognized)
- or is accompanied by fever (not recognized)
- rash (not recognized)
- or persistent headache. these coulid be signs of a serious condition. sore mouth does not improve in 7 days imitation (not recognized)
- pain (not recognized)
- or redness persists or worsens elief keep out of reach of children. ts. directions adults and children 6 years and older: dissolve 2 drops (one at a time) slowly in the mouth. do not bite or chew. repeat every 2 hours as needed or as directed by a doctor children under 6 years: ask a doctor other information protect from heat and moisture inactive ingredients color (caramel) (not recognized)
- extract of a hicola herb mixture (elder, horehound, hyssop, lemon balm, linden flowers, mallow, peppermint, sage, thyme, wild thyme) (not recognized)
- natural flavor
- starch syrup
- sugar (high concern)
Label text, as published
drug facts active ingredient (in each drop) menthol, 4.8 mg. purposes cough suppressant, oral anesthetic uses temporarily rolieves: * cough due to a cold or inhaled irrtants occasional minor iritation and pain due to sore throat or sore mouth warnings sore throat warnings: if sore throat is severe, persists for more than 2 days, is accompanied or followed by fever, headache, rash, swelling, nausea, or vomiting, consult a doctor promptly. these may be serious. do not use in children under 6 years of age unless directed by a doctor. relief ask a doctor before use if you have persistent or chronic cough such as occurs with smoking, asthma, or emphysema cough accompanied by excessive phiegm (mucus) been oducts stop use and ask a doctor if cough persists for more than 1 week, tends to recur, or is accompanied by fever, rash, or persistent headache. these coulid be signs of a serious condition. sore mouth does not improve in 7 days imitation, pain, or redness persists or worsens elief keep out of reach of children. ts. directions adults and children 6 years and older: dissolve 2 drops (one at a time) slowly in the mouth. do not bite or chew. repeat every 2 hours as needed or as directed by a doctor children under 6 years: ask a doctor other information protect from heat and moisture inactive ingredients color (caramel), extract of a hicola herb mixture (elder, horehound, hyssop, lemon balm, linden flowers, mallow, peppermint, sage, thyme, wild thyme), natural flavor, starch syrup, sugar
Allergens and diets
- Vegetarian
Always check the package: recipes change.
More from Ricola
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 101.22 Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives
“whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”
ecfr.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