Dehydrated beverages
Alpine Sugarfree spiced apple cider mix
10 pouches ea.0.14oz
Score
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- Contains non-nutritive sweeteners
- Contains artificial flavors
- No synthetic dyes
Why it scores 23
Alpine Sugarfree spiced apple cider mix scores 23 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Caramel color: The FDA says classes III and IV, which can contain 4-MEI, are the most commonly used food color additives by volume. Regulatory
- minus 20 points Aspartame: Labels must warn people with phenylketonuria (PKU) because aspartame contains phenylalanine (US and EU). 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.
The Receipt
Sugarfree spiced apple cider mix
Ingredients
- Caramel color minus 20 points
- Aspartame minus 20 points
- Maltodextrin minus 2.5 points
- Calcium phosphate minus 1.5 points
- Natural and artificial flavors minus 1.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 4 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 4.5 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Salt 1.9 g / 100 g minus 7 points
- Energy 375 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
100 − 77 = 23
Can’t score above 79. Contains caramel color, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]
Can’t score above 79. High in salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [18]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 375 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 100 g |
| Sugars | 0 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
| Salt | 1.9 g |
Serving: 0.14 ONZ (4 g)
Ingredients
- Maltodextrin
- malic acid
- apple juice solids
- caramel color (high concern)
- aspartame (high concern)
- sodium citrate (controls acidity)
- tricalcium phosphate (prevents caking)
- ascorbic acid
- natural and artificial flavors
- spice extractive
Label text, as published
Maltodextrin, malic acid, apple juice solids*, caramel color, aspartame**, sodium citrate (controls acidity), tricalcium phosphate (prevents caking), ascorbic acid, natural and artificial flavors, spice extractive.
Allergens and diets
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
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More from Alpine
Sources
-
Questions & Answers About 4-MEI
“Based on current science, the FDA has no reason to believe that there are any immediate or short-term health risks presented by 4-MEI at the levels expected in food.”
fda.gov
-
Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)
monographs.iarc.who.int
-
Proposition 65 List of Chemicals Known to the State to Cause Cancer or Reproductive Toxicity
“The date refers to the initial appearance of the chemical on the list.”
oehha.ca.gov
-
Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex III point 2.3 (aspartame)
“‘contains a source of phenylalanine’ shall appear on the label in cases where aspartame/aspartame-acesulfame salt is designated in the list of ingredients by its specific name.”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
Aspartame hazard and risk assessment results released (IARC, WHO and FAO joint news release)
“Citing “limited evidence” for carcinogenicity in humans, IARC classified aspartame as possibly carcinogenic to humans (IARC Group 2B) and JECFA reaffirmed the acceptable daily intake of 40 mg/kg body weight.”
who.int
-
Aspartame and Other Sweeteners in Food
“The FDA disagrees with IARC’s conclusion that these studies support classifying aspartame as a possible carcinogen to humans.”
fda.gov
-
“Aspartame and its breakdown products are safe for human consumption at current levels of exposure”
efsa.europa.eu
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
EFSA issues new advice on phosphates
“We estimated that dietary exposure to phosphates may exceed the new ADI for infants, toddlers and children with average consumption of phosphates in their diet.”
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
-
“For adults, WHO recommends less than 2000 mg/day of sodium (equivalent to less than 5 g/day salt), or just under a teaspoon.”
who.int
-
“Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
-
“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