Gym-goers who want an orange fizzy drink
A can or individual bottle can be packed as a snack drink. If you have been sweating, bring water too: the NHS identifies it as the best way to replace lost fluids.
Who is choosing?
Shoppers comparing sugar
Check the amount in the container you expect to finish, not just the wording on the front. ASDA Groceries lists 0.4g sugars per 100ml for the checked Fanta Orange Zero bottle, while its checked regular Fanta Orange and San Pellegrino Orange cans list 15g and 14.5g per can respectively.
Orange-juice buyers considering fizz
The checked sparkling orange soft drinks contain some orange juice from concentrate but are not 100% juice. If juice is the reason for buying, compare them with still products such as the Tropicana 100% pure pressed orange juice described by Ocado.
What should you check?
Decide whether fizz or orange juice matters more, then check the portion and nutrition information for the drink you would put in your bag.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| After-exercise drink | Pack water if you expect to sweat during training. The NHS identifies water as the best way to replace lost fluids. | I want something refreshing after a session, but an orange fizzy drink is a snack choice rather than my main drink for replacing lost fluids. |
| Sugar per portion | Read sugars per 100ml and per can or bottle. ASDA Groceries lists 14.5g sugars for its checked 330ml San Pellegrino Orange can and 15g for its checked 330ml regular Fanta Orange can. | If I am likely to finish the container, its full sugar figure matters more to my choice than a front-of-pack description. |
| Juice or soft drink | Read the product description, ingredients and declared juice percentage. ASDA Groceries lists 4% orange juice from concentrate for the checked Fanta Orange Zero and 16% for the checked San Pellegrino Orange; Ocado describes the checked Tropicana Smooth Orange as 100% juice. | I want to know whether I am packing a fizzy orange soft drink or still orange juice, rather than choosing by orange flavour alone. |
| Pack format | Check the size of one can or bottle, how many come in the pack and whether you intend to carry one unit or the whole multipack. | A single portion needs to fit in my gym bag; a larger multipack can stay at home. |
Buying pitfalls
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Assuming orange fizz is 100% orange juice
The checked sparkling products contain differing proportions of orange juice from concentrate; the checked 100% Tropicana juice is still.
Read the product description and juice percentage before deciding whether fizz or juice is the priority.
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Relying on a fizzy drink after sweating
A drink chosen for its orange flavour does not replace the decision about what to drink after exercise. The NHS identifies water as the best way to replace lost fluids.
Pack water for training and treat the orange drink as a separate snack choice.
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Checking sugar per 100ml but not per container
A 330ml can and a 500ml bottle are different portions. The figure for 100ml alone does not describe how much is in the container you finish.
Compare the label for the full can or bottle you plan to drink, and check the current pack when buying.
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Reading ‘no added sugar’ as ‘sugar-free’
Ocado describes the checked innocent Smooth Orange Juice as having no added sugar and containing squeezed oranges. That wording does not tell you the total sugars in the portion you pour.
Check the nutrition label and serving size if you choose still juice instead of a sparkling drink.
Relevant brand references
These examples show differences between specific sparkling drinks and still juices; a brand name alone does not identify the drink type or its nutrition.
Fanta
The checked Orange Zero bottle and regular Orange can are sparkling orange soft drinks with different sugar figures.
- ASDA Groceries lists 0.4g sugars per 100ml and 4% orange juice from concentrate for the checked Orange Zero 500ml bottle.
- Its checked regular Orange 330ml can lists 15g sugars per can and 2.3% orange juice from concentrate; neither example is 100% juice.
San Pellegrino
The checked Orange 330ml can is a sparkling option for someone comparing declared juice content as well as pack size.
- ASDA Groceries lists 16% orange juice from concentrate for this can, more than in the checked Fanta examples.
- The same listing gives 14.5g sugars per can. It is not 100% orange juice.
Tropicana
The checked Smooth Orange is a still-juice reference when orange juice matters more than carbonation.
- Ocado describes it as 100% pure pressed orange juice, not from concentrate.
- It does not meet a preference for a sparkling drink.
innocent
The checked Smooth Orange Juice is another still option for shoppers choosing juice rather than fizz.
- Ocado describes it as made from squeezed oranges, not from concentrate, with no added sugar.
- It is not sparkling; check its nutrition label rather than treating ‘no added sugar’ as ‘sugar-free’.
Vital Gut
The checked product is a sparkling orange-flavoured soft drink for shoppers interested in its stated ingredients.
- Sainsbury’s describes the checked drink as containing added vitamins, live cultures and a plant-based sweetener.
- Check its current nutrition label before comparing its sugar with the other drinks here.
Joybuy sparkling orange options
These Joybuy options are orange-flavoured drinks in individual units or multipacks, including an orange-and-passion-fruit blend. Choose a unit for your bag rather than treating a multipack as one portable portion.
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Fanta Orange Zero Sugar 8 x 330ml
Consider this if you want an individually sized orange fizzy drink labelled Zero Sugar for your gym bag. The pack contains eight 330ml units; check the current can label for its nutrition and ingredients.
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Fanta Orange 8 x 330ml
This regular orange fizzy drink comes as eight 330ml units, so one can can be packed separately. Joybuy’s product description lists 3.7% orange juice from concentrate for this SKU; check its can label for the current full-portion sugar figure.
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J2O Orange & Passion Fruit 12 x 250ml
Consider a 250ml unit if an orange-and-passion-fruit blend appeals more than orange alone. The pack contains 12 units; check the individual label for carbonation, ingredients and sugar.
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Hankow Er Chang Orange-Flavoured Soda Drink 275ml
The stated 275ml unit is an alternative to the larger individual drinks here. If you plan to finish it after a session, check the label for sugar in the whole container.
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Tango Orange 24 x 330ml
One 330ml unit can be taken as an orange fizzy snack drink, while the 24-unit pack is better considered separately from what you carry. Check the current can label for its ingredients and full-can sugar figure.
Frequently asked questions
Should a sparkling orange drink be my main drink after a workout?
No. If you have been sweating, the NHS identifies water as the best way to replace lost fluids. Choose an orange fizzy drink for its flavour or as a snack drink, and bring water separately.
Is a sparkling orange soft drink the same as orange juice?
No. ASDA Groceries lists 4% orange juice from concentrate in its checked Fanta Orange Zero bottle and 16% in its checked San Pellegrino Orange can. Ocado describes the checked Tropicana Smooth Orange as 100% pure pressed orange juice, but it is still, not sparkling.
Would a 500ml bottle or a 330ml can suit my gym bag?
Choose the size you expect to carry and finish, then compare nutrition for that whole container. The checked Fanta Orange Zero is a 500ml bottle, while the checked San Pellegrino Orange and regular Fanta Orange examples are 330ml cans; check the label for the particular product you buy.
Does ‘no added sugar’ mean orange juice is sugar-free?
No. Ocado describes the checked innocent Smooth Orange Juice as having no added sugar and containing squeezed oranges. Check its nutrition label for total sugars and the portion you intend to pour.