Is Coke coca cola ultra-processed?

250 Colas Sold in Ireland

Yes, it's ultra-processed

1 Unprocessed
2 Kitchen staple
3 Processed
4 Ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

Colour
Flavouring
E150d Sulphite ammonia caramel

8 ingredients
2 additives

Less processed colas

Less processed isn't automatically healthier, so compare the labels for what matters to you, such as sugar or salt.

Ingredients

Ultra-processing Processing signs are highlighted

Carbonated Water, Sugar (processing marker), Colour (ultra-processing marker) (e150d (ultra-processing marker)), Acid (Phosphoric Acid), Natural Flavourings (ultra-processing marker), Caffeine Flavouring (ultra-processing marker)

Additives: E150d Sulphite ammonia caramel , E338 Phosphoric acid

As written on the pack

Carbonated Water, Sugar, Colour (Caramel E150d). Acid (Phosphoric Acid). Natural Flavourings, Caffeine Flavouring

What makes it ultra-processed

Cosmetic additives

Added to change how the food looks, feels or tastes, not to keep it safe. A hallmark of ultra-processed food.

E150d Sulphite ammonia caramel Sulphite ammonia caramel is the dark brown colour in colas and many sauces, made by heating sugars with sulphite and ammonia compounds.
Colour Colours are added to restore colour lost in processing or to make a product look more appealing.
Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.

2 ingredients that would only make it processed

Kitchen staples like sugar, salt and oil. On their own they make a food processed, not ultra-processed.

Sodas Products in the category "Sodas" are at least group 3.
Sugar Sugar refined from sugar cane or beet.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 142 colas

From least to most processed, this one ranks 26th. 99% of the colas here are ultra-processed.

Ranked by NOVA group, then by the number of ultra-processing signs, additives and ingredients. Our ordering, not part of NOVA.

All 142 colas, least processed first

About this information

Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 5000112627084, last edited 8 April 2026), available under the Open Database License. If something is wrong or the recipe has changed, you can correct it there.
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors, CC BY-SA 3.0.
The NOVA group is an automated estimate from crowdsourced data: a missing or mistyped ingredient can change it.
General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.