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VitaLife Rootbeer probiotic soda
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Carbonated fruit soft drinks with sugar with 10-50% of fruit juice

VitaLife Rootbeer probiotic soda

12 oz

Poor out of 100 High confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • Contains non-nutritive sweeteners
  • Contains added sugars
  • Certified organic
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Why it scores 33

VitaLife Rootbeer probiotic soda scores 33 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
  2. Fruit juice concentrate (sweetener): An added sugar. Strong
  3. 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 sodas

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

The Receipt

Rootbeer probiotic soda

START100

Ingredients

  • Sugar
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Fruit juice concentrate (sweetener)
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Inulin (chicory root fiber)
    Info An ingredient class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [4]
  • Beer
    Regulatory There is no known safe amount of alcohol use during pregnancy. [5][6]
  • Stevia (steviol glycosides)
    Emerging WHO (2023) recommends against using non-sugar sweeteners to control body weight (conditional recommendation); US dietary guidelines advise limiting them. [7][2]
  • Monk fruit extract
    Emerging WHO (2023) recommends against using non-sugar sweeteners to control body weight (conditional recommendation); US dietary guidelines advise limiting them. [7][2]
subtotal−47

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [4]
  • 3 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: bulking agent, industrial sugar or starch hydrolysate and non-nutritive sweetener. [4]
subtotal−21

Nutrition per 100 ml

  • Sugars 1.4 g / 100 ml
    Strong Contains some sugar. [1]
  • Energy 11 kcal / 100 ml
    Info Energy-dense for its volume. [2]
subtotal−4

Bonuses

  • Certified organic
    Info Carries a certified-organic label. [8][9]
subtotal+5
TOTAL 33Poor

100 − 67 = 33

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

GTIN 04061464734555 · 2025-12-04

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

High confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 ml

Energy11 kcal
Fat0 g
Saturated fat0 g
Trans fat0 g
Carbohydrates3.9 g
Sugars1.4 g
Added sugars1.1 g
Fiber2.5 g
Protein0 g
Salt0 g

Serving: 355mL

Ingredients

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

Carbonated Water, Organic Tibicos (Water, Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Tibicos Cultures), Organic Inulin, Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Apple Juice Concentrate, Organic Root Beer Flavor, Organic Stevia, Organic Lemon Juice Concentrate, Organic Vanilla Extract, Organic Monk Fruit Extract, Tartaric Acid, Sea Salt

Allergens and diets

Contains: Gluten

  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian
  • Not gluten-free
  • Palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

More from VitaLife

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

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  5. About Alcohol Use During Pregnancy

    U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · Aug 14, 2026 · Regulator

    “There is no known safe amount of alcohol use during pregnancy.”

    cdc.gov

  6. Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)

    International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO) · IARC

    monographs.iarc.who.int

  7. 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

  8. Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of 30 May 2018 on organic production and labelling of organic products

    European Union (Official Journal) · May 30, 2018 · Law

    eur-lex.europa.eu

  9. 7 CFR 205.102 Use of the term "organic" (National Organic Program)

    Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), U.S. Office of the Federal Register · Feb 17, 2010 · Law

    “Any agricultural product that is sold, labeled, or represented as “100 percent organic,” “organic,” or “made with organic (specified ingredients or food group(s))” must be: (a) Produced in accordance with the requirements specified in § 205.101 or §§ 205.202 through 205.207”

    ecfr.gov

  10. 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

  11. 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