Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Sunkist Orange Soda ultra-processed?

Diet sodas Sold in the United States

Pack of Sunkist Orange Soda

Yes, it's ultra-processed

  1. 1 Unprocessed
  2. 2 Kitchen staple
  3. 3 Processed
  4. 4 Ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

  • 29 ingredients
  • 7 additives
  • Nutri-Score B

Less processed diet sodas

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, citric acid, sodium benzoate (preservative), aspartame malic acid, sodium citrate, natural flavors acesulfame potassium modified food starch, ester gum caffeine, yellow 6, red 40, contains phenylketonurics (phenylalanine produced under the joint authority of dr pepper, seven up inc), 5301 legacy drive, plano, tx 75024 and sunkist growers, inc, valencia, ca 91355, diet sunkist is a registered trademark of sunkist growers, inc, usa used under license c2018 sunkist growers, inc, and dr pepper, seven up, inc, caffeine content (1211 cz, 452)

Additives: E110 Sunset yellow FCF , E129 Allura red , E211 Sodium benzoate , E296 Malic acid , E330 Citric acid , E331 Sodium citrates , E452 Polyphosphates

Also detected, but not matched to one ingredient: E452 Polyphosphates.

As written on the pack

carbonated water, citric acid, sodium benzoate (preservative), aspartame malic acid, sodium citrate, natural flavors acesulfame potassium modified food starch, ester gum caffeine, yellow 6, red 40. contains phenylketonurics: phenylalanine produced under the joint authority of dr pepper/seven up inc., 5301 legacy drive, plano, tx 75024 and sunkist growers, inc., valencia, ca 91355. diet sunkist is a registered trademark of sunkist growers, inc., usa used under license c2018 sunkist growers, inc. and dr pepper/seven up, inc. caffeine content: 19mg/1211 cz ( 452

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.

  • E110 Sunset yellow FCF Sunset yellow FCF is a synthetic orange azo dye (FD&C Yellow No. 6 in the US).
  • E129 Allura red Allura red AC is a synthetic red azo dye (FD&C Red No. 40 in the US).
  • E452 Polyphosphates Emulsifiers are substances which make it possible to form or maintain a homogenous mixture of two or more immiscible phases such as oil and water in a foodstuff.
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.
  • Preservative Preservatives slow spoilage by microbes.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 102 diet sodas

From least to most processed, this one ranks 21st. 98% of the diet sodas 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 102 diet sodas, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 07828005, last edited 7 February 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.
  • NOVA measures processing, not nutrition. For nutrition, Open Food Facts gives this product a Nutri-Score of B (from A, best, to E).
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.