Shoppers reducing sugar
If you want a fizzy drink with a sandwich, salad or snack, compare sugars per 100ml before choosing a can size. The manufacturers list 0g sugars per 100ml for Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Pepsi Max Caffeine Free and Sprite Zero.
Who is choosing?
Cola drinkers avoiding caffeine
Look for a cola explicitly labelled caffeine-free. PepsiCo describes Pepsi Max Caffeine Free as having no caffeine; Coca-Cola lists caffeine flavouring in Coca-Cola Zero Sugar.
Shoppers choosing by flavour
Cola, lemon-and-lime and orange drinks offer different flavour choices, but their sugar values also differ. The Coca-Cola Company lists 0g sugars per 100ml for Sprite Zero and 4.5g for Fanta Orange.
What matters when choosing?
Start with flavour, then check the nutrition panel, caffeine wording and pack format for the drink you would take to lunch.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Flavour | Decide between cola, lemon-and-lime and fruit flavours. Check the named product rather than assuming drinks in one flavour group share a recipe. | I want a flavour I will enjoy with lunch, whether that is cola, citrus or orange. |
| Sugars | Compare the sugars row per 100ml, then consider how much you will drink. The Coca-Cola Company lists 0g for Sprite Zero and 4.5g for Fanta Orange per 100ml. | If I am reducing sugar in everyday drinks, I want to compare the actual drink and serving I am buying, not just its flavour. |
| Caffeine | Look for explicit caffeine-free wording and check the current ingredients. PepsiCo identifies Pepsi Max Caffeine Free as having no caffeine; Coca-Cola Zero Sugar lists caffeine flavouring. | For a caffeine-free lunch drink, I need more than a zero-sugar label. |
| Ingredients | Read the sweeteners and any phenylalanine statement on the pack. Coca-Cola lists aspartame in Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and Sprite Zero; their sweetener lists differ. | A particular sweetener may matter to me, so I want to check this drink’s ingredient list. |
| Pack format | Check the number of cans or bottles and the volume of each. A multipack is a different purchase from one drink to carry with lunch. | I may take one can today, but I also need to decide whether storing the remaining drinks suits me. |
What is easy to overlook?
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Assuming zero sugar means caffeine-free
Coca-Cola Zero Sugar lists caffeine flavouring, while Pepsi Max Caffeine Free is explicitly sold without caffeine.
If avoiding caffeine matters, check the named drink and its current label.
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Choosing by fruit flavour alone
A fruit-flavoured drink is not necessarily zero sugar. The Coca-Cola Company lists 4.5g sugars per 100ml for Fanta Orange.
Compare sugars per 100ml, then check the volume you expect to drink.
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Assuming zero-sugar recipes are identical
Sweetener combinations differ between drinks. Coca-Cola’s ingredient lists include aspartame in both Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and Sprite Zero, but Sprite Zero also lists other sweeteners.
Read the full ingredients and any phenylalanine statement if a specific ingredient matters to you.
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Confusing a lunch serving with the whole pack
A 330ml can may be convenient to carry, but a multipack also means storing the remaining cans.
Check both the size of each drink and the number of drinks in the pack.
Brand examples
These named drinks illustrate different choices; their figures and ingredients do not describe every product from the same brand.
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola Zero Sugar is a cola option to consider when comparing sugars.
- The Coca-Cola Company lists 0g sugars and 0.3 kcal per 100ml for Coca-Cola Zero Sugar.
- Its listed ingredients include caffeine flavouring and aspartame; it is not a caffeine-free example.
Pepsi
Pepsi Max Caffeine Free is a cola option for shoppers who want an explicitly caffeine-free drink.
- PepsiCo states that it has no caffeine and lists 0g sugars per 100ml.
- Its product information includes a source-of-phenylalanine statement; check the current ingredients if sweeteners matter to you.
Sprite
Sprite Zero offers lemon-and-lime flavour rather than cola.
- The Coca-Cola Company lists 0g sugars and 1 kcal per 100ml for Sprite Zero.
- Its ingredients list aspartame, acesulfame-K and sucralose.
Fanta
Fanta Orange is an orange-flavoured, caffeine-free option.
- The Coca-Cola Company describes Fanta Orange as containing fruit juice and being caffeine-free.
- It lists 4.5g sugars and 19 kcal per 100ml, so it is not a zero-sugar option.
Joybuy drink options
These cola, citrus and fruit-flavoured multipacks offer individual 330ml cans to take with lunch. Choose the drink and the pack quantity separately.
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Pepsi Max Caffeine Free 24 × 330ml
For a cola with lunch when avoiding caffeine matters. PepsiCo describes this named drink as caffeine-free and lists 0g sugars per 100ml. This is a 24-can multipack; check the current ingredients and phenylalanine statement if relevant.
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Fanta Orange 8 × 330ml
For an orange-flavoured drink with lunch when a zero-sugar option is not the priority. The Coca-Cola Company lists 4.5g sugars and 19 kcal per 100ml for Fanta Orange. The pack contains eight 330ml cans.
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Coca-Cola Zero Cans 12 × 330ml
A cola option supplied as twelve 330ml cans for taking an individual can to lunch. If you need to avoid caffeine or a particular sweetener, check this pack’s current ingredients rather than relying on the Zero name.
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7UP Zero 8 × 330ml
A lemon-and-lime alternative to cola, supplied as eight 330ml cans. Check the current nutrition panel, caffeine wording and sweeteners if any of those determine your choice.
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Tango Apple Sugar-Free 24 × 330ml
An apple-flavoured option in a 24-can pack, with each can holding 330ml. If avoiding caffeine matters, confirm its status on the current pack before choosing it.
Common questions
Which fizzy drink should I consider if I am reducing sugar?
Compare sugars per 100ml on the current pack and choose a drink that fits your flavour preference. The manufacturers list 0g sugars per 100ml for Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Pepsi Max Caffeine Free and Sprite Zero; the NHS notes that free sugars include sugars added to fizzy drinks.
Are all zero-sugar fizzy drinks caffeine-free?
No. Coca-Cola Zero Sugar lists caffeine flavouring, whereas PepsiCo explicitly describes Pepsi Max Caffeine Free as having no caffeine. Check the named drink rather than inferring caffeine status from its sugar claim.
What does “contains a source of phenylalanine” mean?
It is a label statement associated with aspartame. UK government food-labelling guidance requires a phenylalanine statement for products containing aspartame; read the ingredients and warning on the particular pack if this matters to you.
What should I compare on cans or bottles for lunch?
Compare ingredients, nutrition per 100ml and the volume of the drink you will carry. Also check how many cans or bottles you are buying if the listing is for a multipack.
Is Fanta Orange a zero-sugar option?
No. The Coca-Cola Company lists 4.5g sugars and 19 kcal per 100ml for Fanta Orange. It describes the drink as caffeine-free, but that does not make it a zero-sugar alternative.