Coca-ColaCarbonated Beverages#2 of 4 in categoryRating 2/5

Coca-Cola Soft Drink

Red flags

  • Red flag: Contains Caramel Colour (Class IV)

Green flags

  • Green flag: Low sodium

Ingredients, decoded

6 listed
  • Carbonated Water
  • Sugar
  • Acidity Regulator (338)
  • Caffeine (8.7 mg/100 g)
  • Colour (150d)
  • Flavours (Natural Flavouring Substances)
ConcernWorth watchingIn label order. Tap a highlighted one to learn more.

EC4

Nutrition per 100 ml
ENutritionCIngredients4Risk
VerdictPOOR
Energy44 kcal
Protein0 g
Carbohydrates10.9 g
Total sugars10.6 g
Total fat0 g
Sodium8.5 mg
Highlighted values exceed FSSAI and UK FSA front of pack thresholds.

Our take

CleanPlate review

A familiar cola with 32 g sugar per bottle

Coca-Cola is carbonated water, sugar, phosphoric acid (INS 338), caffeine, caramel colour (INS 150d) and natural flavouring. It has no preservative and no artificial sweetener.

CleanPlate scores it EC4. The E for nutrition is low: almost no credited protein, fibre or micronutrients per 100 ml. The C for ingredients reflects mostly refined or industrial ingredients (led by sugar), with additives that cost points: caramel colour and phosphoric acid. The 4 for risk comes mainly from free sugar (10.6 g per 100 ml).

How EC4 breaks down

Each grade is scored on its own. Here are the label numbers behind each one, per 100 ml.

How we score →
01 Nutritional valueA to E
E

Very low nutrient density

Protein
0 g
Fibre
Not declared
Vitamins and minerals
None declared
Energy
44 kcal

Scored on protein, fibre and twelve vitamins and minerals, against the Codex and FSSAI "source" and "high" levels, per 100 g and per 100 kcal.

02 Ingredient & label integrityA to E
C

Mixed processing and additives

Base
Carbonated Water
Sweeteners
Sugar
Additives
1
Flagged
Caramel Colour (Class IV)

Scored on how processed the ingredients are, which additives are used and why, and whether the label keeps its promises.

03 Risk nutrients1 to 5
4

High risk

Total sugar
10.6 g
Sodium
8.5 mg

Scored on free sugar, sodium, saturated fat and trans fat, each weighed by how strong the evidence of harm is.

A closer look

Does the label add up?

Carbonated water, sugar, acidity regulator (INS 338), caffeine (8.7 mg per 100 g), colour (INS 150d) and natural flavouring substances.

Per 100 ml: 44 kcal, 0 g fat, 10.6 g sugar, 0 g protein, 8.5 mg sodium. The panel lists total sugars but no added-sugar line, so we treat all sugar as free sugar.

Ingredients to watch

  • Free sugarConcern

    10.6 g per 100 ml, 32 g in a 300 ml bottle.

  • Caramel colour (INS 150d)Worth watching

    Made with ammonia and sulphite; it can contain 4-methylimidazole, classed as possibly carcinogenic (IARC 2B).

  • Phosphoric acidWorth watching

    Acts as a drink sequestrant; high phosphate intakes are linked to kidney and vascular concerns.

  • Short listFine

    Six ingredients; no preservative or artificial sweetener.

Common misconceptions

Myth: "Sugar in cola is like sugar in fruit"

Fruit sugar arrives with fibre. Here it arrives with nothing else.

Myth: "Diet cola is automatically better"

Sweeteners remove the sugar but carry their own questions; plain water or soda water is the cleanest swap.

How often, and how

  • Healthy adultsOccasionally
  • ChildrenRarely
  • Diabetes or prediabetesLimit

Smarter ways to eat it

Half-and-half

Mix with soda water over ice to halve the sugar.

Keep it social

Save cola for occasions and have a lime soda for everyday thirst.

Common questions

Is Coca-Cola Soft Drink healthy?

Coca-Cola Soft Drink scores EC4 (Poor) on CleanPlate, which makes it best kept as a rare treat rather than a regular buy. The main concerns are: Contains Caramel Colour (Class IV). On the plus side: Low sodium.

What does the EC4 score mean?

The first letter (E) grades nutritional value: very low nutrient density. The second letter (C) grades ingredient and label integrity: mixed processing and additives. The number (4) grades risk nutrients (sugar, sodium, saturated fat): high risk.

Which ingredients in Coca-Cola Soft Drink should I watch?

Colour (150d) (Caramel Colour (Class IV)).

Last reviewed October 9, 2026. Scored with the CleanPlate method from the published label.

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