Paper BoatFruit Juices & Drinks#8 of 9 in categoryRating 2/5

Paper Boat Swing Zesty Pomegranate

Red flags

  • Red flag: High added sugar (12g per 100ml)

Green flags

  • Green flag: Low sodium

Ingredients, decoded

9 listed
  • Water
  • Sugar
  • Pomegranate Juice Concentrate (1.9%)#
  • Acidity Regulator (Citric Acid)
  • Flavours (Nature-Identical, Natural Flavouring Substances)
  • Iodised Salt
  • Preservatives (202, 242)
  • Food Colours (150d, 124, 122)
  • Vitamin D2
ConcernWorth watchingIn label order. Tap a highlighted one to learn more.

[F] DD4

Nutrition per 100 ml
DNutritionDIngredients4Risk
VerdictPOOR
Energy52.8 kcal
Protein0 g
Carbohydrates13.2 g
Total sugars13 g
Added sugars12 g
Total fat0 g
Sodium40 mg
Vitamin D3 µg
Highlighted values exceed FSSAI and UK FSA front of pack thresholds.

Our take

CleanPlate review

Mostly sugar water, two dyes and added vitamin D

Paper Boat Swing Zesty Pomegranate is water and sugar with pomegranate juice concentrate (1.9%, which the pack says equals 10% reconstituted juice), citric acid, flavouring, two preservatives and three colours. Vitamin D2 is added.

CleanPlate scores it [F][R]DD4. The D for nutrition is low: almost no credited protein, fibre or micronutrients per 100 ml. The [F] marks that added vitamin D lifts the grade; without it it would be E. The D for ingredients reflects mostly refined or industrial ingredients (led by sugar and pomegranate juice concentrate), with additives that cost points: caramel colour, flavouring, carmoisine and Ponceau 4R. A red flag (Southampton Six x2) cuts the score by 30%. The 4 for risk comes mainly from free sugar (12 g per 100 ml).

Claims vs reality

What the pack says, checked against the ingredient list and nutrition panel.

  • On the pack

    “Zesty Pomegranate”

    Partly true

    The fruit is real but small: 1.9% concentrate, which the pack equates to 10% reconstituted juice.

  • On the pack

    “Each serve provides 40% of your daily Vitamin D requirement”

    Holds

    3.0 mcg per 100 ml is 6 mcg per 200 ml, 40% of the 15 mcg reference.

  • Retail listing

    “Enriched with Vitamin D”

    Holds

    Vitamin D2 is added at 3.0 mcg per 100 ml.

How DD4 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
D

Low nutrient density

Protein
0 g
Fibre
Not declared
Vitamins and minerals
Vitamin D
Energy
53 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
D

Heavily processed or flagged substances

Base
Water
Sweeteners
Sugar
Additives
2
Flagged
None

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

Added sugar
12 g
Sodium
40 mg

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

[F] Added vitamins or minerals meaningfully lift this product's nutrition grade. Without them it would score lower.

[R] Contains an ingredient on our red-flag list (such as a partially hydrogenated oil or a flagged synthetic dye), which cuts the ingredient grade.

A closer look

Does the label add up?

Water, sugar, pomegranate juice concentrate 1.9% (reconstituted equals 10% juice), citric acid, flavourings (nature-identical and natural), iodised salt, preservatives (INS 202, 242), colours (INS 150d, 124, 122) and vitamin D2.

Per 100 ml: 52.8 kcal, 0 g fat, 13 g sugar of which 12 g added, 0 g protein, 40 mg sodium. Vitamin D2 is 3.0 mcg per 100 ml (added). The pack front reads "Swing Zesty Pomegranate"; "Juice" appears only in Blinkit's product title.

Ingredients to watch

  • Two Southampton Six dyesConcern

    Ponceau 4R (INS 124) and Carmoisine (INS 122) are linked to extra hyperactivity in some children; two dyes cut the ingredient score by 30%.

  • Added sugarConcern

    12 g per 100 ml, 24 g in a 200 ml serve.

  • Caramel colour (INS 150d)Worth watching

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

  • PreservativesWorth watching

    Potassium sorbate (202) and dimethyl dicarbonate (242).

Common misconceptions

Myth: "Added vitamin D makes a sweet drink healthy"

The vitamin D is real, but so are 12 g of added sugar per 100 ml. Vitamin D from sun and food does not need sugar.

Myth: "Pomegranate drinks carry the fruit's antioxidants"

With 1.9% concentrate, little of the fruit's polyphenols is likely to be left.

How often, and how

  • Healthy adultsOccasionally
  • ChildrenRarely
  • Diabetes or prediabetesLimit

Smarter ways to eat it

Make your own

Fresh pomegranate seeds in soda water give flavour and colour without the dyes.

Water down

Mix one part drink with two parts water for a milder, lower-sugar glass.

Common questions

Is Paper Boat Swing Zesty Pomegranate healthy?

Paper Boat Swing Zesty Pomegranate scores DD4 (Poor) on CleanPlate, which makes it best kept as a rare treat rather than a regular buy. The main concerns are: High added sugar (12g per 100ml). On the plus side: Low sodium.

What does the DD4 score mean?

The first letter (D) grades nutritional value: low nutrient density. The second letter (D) grades ingredient and label integrity: heavily processed or flagged substances. The number (4) grades risk nutrients (sugar, sodium, saturated fat): high risk. The [F] means added vitamins or minerals meaningfully lift the nutrition grade.

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

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