Schweppes Ginger Ale
Published
Schweppes Ginger Ale is a carbonated ginger-flavoured soft drink in a single can. It scores EC2: nothing on nutrition because it carries no protein, fibre or minerals, middling on ingredients because of caramel colour, two sweeteners and unspecified flavouring, and moderate on risk because of the sugar. Best as an occasional drink, not a daily one.
Ingredients, decoded
7 listed- Carbonated Water
- Sucrose
- Acidity Regulators
- Citric Acid
- Sodium Citrate
- Flavouring
- Preservative (Sodium Benzoate)
- Sweeteners
- Acesulfame K
- Sucralose
- Colouring (INS 150d)
1 teaspoon of sugar in every 100 ml · 4.6 g total sugar, 5 g a teaspoon
| Energy | 19 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 4.6 g |
| Total sugars | 4.6 g |
| Total fat | 0 g |
| Sodium | 14 mg |
Think this score is wrong?
What to know about Schweppes Ginger Ale
A light fizz with sugar and two sweeteners
Schweppes Ginger Ale is a carbonated soft drink built from carbonated water and sucrose, with citric acid and sodium citrate as acidity regulators, flavouring, sodium benzoate as preservative, two sweeteners and caramel colour (INS 150d). It is sold in a 320 mL can as a caffeine-free fizzy drink, to be drunk chilled or used as a mixer.
Per 100 mL it has 19 kcal, 4.6 g sugar, 14 mg sodium, and no protein or fat. A full can of 320 mL comes to 61 kcal, 14.7 g sugar and 45 mg sodium. It costs sugar and two sweeteners together, and it gives no protein, fibre, vitamins or minerals back.
The name says ginger, but the list shows no ginger, only flavouring with its class not stated. The pack also says the drink is lower in sugar than regular sweetened drinks, which is why the sweeteners are there. CleanPlate scores it EC2.
Why Schweppes Ginger Ale scores EC2
Nutrition is an E because the drink has no protein, fibre or minerals. Ingredients are a C because of caramel colour, two sweeteners and flavouring, and risk is a 2 on 4.6 g sugar per 100 mL.
Very low nutrient density
- Protein
- 0 g
- Fibre
- Not declared
- Vitamins and minerals
- None declared
- Energy
- 19 kcal
01 Nutrition density: why E
There is nothing to credit here: protein is 0 g, fibre is 0 g and no vitamins or minerals are declared. No protein contributor was found, so the lowest protein tier applies and the grade comes to zero.
The drink is light at 19 kcal per 100 mL, but being light does not add to the grade.
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. Protein also has to supply at least 12.5% of the calories to count, and 25% for full credit.
Mixed processing and additives
- Base
- Carbonated Water
- Sweeteners
- Sweeteners
- Additives
- 2
- Flagged
- 3 ingredients
02 Ingredient integrity: why C
Carbonated water and sucrose lead a short list. Sodium benzoate and citric acid cost no points, but several others do.
Flavouring with its class not stated, caramel IV colour (150d), acesulfame K and sucralose each cost ingredient points. Having two sweeteners together adds to the cost. No claim on the pack is hollow, so label integrity costs nothing.
Scored on how processed the ingredients are, which additives are used and why, and whether the label keeps its promises.
Low risk
- Total sugar
- 4.6 g
- Sodium
- 14 mg
03 Load risk: why 2
Sugar is nearly all of the risk: 4.6 g per 100 mL, 14.7 g in a can, and it makes up most of the risk index. The pack prints only total sugars, and as sucrose is listed with no intrinsic sugar, all 4.6 g counts as free sugar.
Sodium adds only a little at 14 mg per 100 mL, 45 mg per can. Saturated fat, trans fat and energy play no part, so the risk grade lands on a 2.
Scored on free sugar, sodium, saturated fat and trans fat, each weighed by how strong the evidence of harm is.
Red flags
- −Red flag: Contains Sodium Benzoate
- −Red flag: Contains Acesulfame Potassium
- −Red flag: Contains Caramel Colour (Class IV)
Green flags
- +Green flag: Low sodium
Does Schweppes Ginger Ale live up to its claims?
The caffeine-free claim holds. The lower-sugar claim is true against its comparison, but a can still has 14.7 g sugar, and no ginger is listed behind the name.
- Product nameBe careful
“Dry Ginger Ale”
No ginger is listed. The taste comes from flavouring with its class not stated.
- On the packBe careful
“25% lower in sugar”
The pack compares against regular sweetened drinks, and the drink does use sweeteners to get there. A can still has 14.7 g sugar.
- Retail listingHolds
“Caffeine-free sparkling soft drink”
No caffeine source appears in the ingredient list.
- On the packHolds
“Fat and fibre are 0 g”
The panel shows 0 g fat per 100 mL, and the pack states 0 g saturated fat, trans fat and fibre.
What's in Schweppes Ginger Ale?
Carbonated water and sucrose lead the list, followed by acidity regulators, flavouring, a preservative, two sweeteners and caramel colour. The sweeteners and caramel colour are what to watch.
The ingredient list, read for you
Carbonated water and sucrose come first, so this is sweet fizzy water. Citric acid and sodium citrate give the sharpness, and flavouring gives the ginger taste, though its class is not stated.
Sodium benzoate is the preservative. Acesulfame K and sucralose add sweetness alongside the sugar, and caramel colour (INS 150d) gives the amber tint.
Ingredients to watch
- Sugar (sucrose)Concern
4.6 g per 100 mL, so 14.7 g in one 320 mL can. It drives almost all of the risk grade.
- Acesulfame K and sucraloseWorth watching
Two sweeteners used with the sugar. Each costs ingredient points.
- Caramel colour (INS 150d)Worth watching
Sulphite ammonia caramel, used only for colour. It costs ingredient points.
- Flavouring, class not statedWorth watching
The pack does not say whether the flavouring is natural, so it costs a few ingredient points.
- Sodium benzoateWorth watching
A preservative that costs no points here. It is worth knowing it is in the list.
- Energy and sodiumFine
19 kcal and 14 mg sodium per 100 mL, so 61 kcal and 45 mg in a can.
What it doesn’t have
- No protein, fibre, vitamins or minerals are declared.
- The pack does not split added sugar from total sugars.
Who should eat Schweppes Ginger Ale?
An occasional drink for most adults, and more rarely for children and teens, because of the sugar and the two sweeteners.
- Most adultsA few times a week
14.7 g sugar per can, with little else to offer.
- Children and teensOccasionally
Sugar plus two sweeteners and caramel colour in one can.
- PregnancyOccasionally
It has two sweeteners, acesulfame K and sucralose, and 14.7 g sugar per can.
- Heart conditionsOccasionally
Sodium is low at 45 mg per can, but the can has 14.7 g sugar.
Schweppes Ginger Ale: common questions
What is the CleanPlate score of Schweppes Ginger Ale?
Schweppes Ginger Ale is a carbonated ginger-flavoured soft drink in a single can. It scores EC2: nothing on nutrition because it carries no protein, fibre or minerals, middling on ingredients because of caramel colour, two sweeteners and unspecified flavouring, and moderate on risk because of the sugar. Best as an occasional drink, not a daily one. Nutrition E, ingredients C, load risk 2; nutrition and ingredients run A to E, risk runs 1 to 5, and A and 1 are best.
How many calories and how much protein are in Schweppes Ginger Ale?
Per 100 ml, Schweppes Ginger Ale has 19 kcal, 0 g protein, 4.6 g carbohydrate, 0 g fat and 4.6 g sugar. One serve (1 can, 320 mL) has 61 kcal and 0 g protein.
What are the ingredients in Schweppes Ginger Ale?
7 ingredients, in label order: Carbonated Water, Sucrose, Acidity Regulators (Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate), Flavouring, Preservative (Sodium Benzoate), Sweeteners (Acesulfame K, Sucralose), Colouring (INS 150d). Flagged: Sodium Benzoate (low concern), Acesulfame Potassium (low concern), Caramel Colour (Class IV) (low concern).
Does Schweppes Ginger Ale live up to its claims?
4 claims checked: 2 hold, 2 need care. "Dry Ginger Ale" needs care: No ginger is listed. The taste comes from flavouring with its class not stated. "25% lower in sugar" needs care: The pack compares against regular sweetened drinks, and the drink does use sweeteners to get there. A can still has 14.7 g sugar.
Who should limit Schweppes Ginger Ale?
Most adults: a few times a week. 14.7 g sugar per can, with little else to offer. Children and teens: occasionally. Sugar plus two sweeteners and caramel colour in one can. Pregnancy: occasionally. It has two sweeteners, acesulfame K and sucralose, and 14.7 g sugar per can.
How much sugar, salt and saturated fat does Schweppes Ginger Ale have?
Per 100 ml, Schweppes Ginger Ale has 4.6 g sugar and 14 mg sodium (about 0 g salt). The FSSAI and UK FSA "high" lines are 5 g added sugar, 300 mg sodium and 2.5 g saturated fat per 100 ml. It is under all three lines.
Last reviewed October 29, 2026. Scored with the CleanPlate method from the published label. Spotted a mistake? .
Label read on 29 October 2026, from photos of the pack. If the pack has changed since, tell us.
Score history (1)
| Date | Score | Method | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 October 2026 | EC2 | v5.0 | History starts here |
Every change to this score is logged. See corrections and the method changelog.
Better Carbonated Beverages
All Carbonated Beverages →- Fanta Orange Zero Sugar Soft Drink
- −Red flag: Contains Aspartame
- −Red flag: Contains Acesulfame Potassium
- Tipsy Tiger Fresh Lime Soda Sparkling Lemonade
- −Red flag: High added sugar (5.9g per 100ml)
- −Red flag: Contains Sodium Benzoate
- Zyro by Karan Aujla Zero Sugar Masala Cola Soft Drink
- −Red flag: Contains Caramel Colour (Class IV)
- −Red flag: Contains Sodium Benzoate
