Thums UpCarbonated Beverages#4 of 4 in categoryRating 2/5

Thums Up Soft Drink

Red flags

  • Red flag: High added sugar (10.4g per 100ml)
  • Red flag: Contains Caramel Colour (Class IV)

Green flags

  • Green flag: Low sodium

Ingredients, decoded

6 listed
  • Carbonated Water
  • Sugar
  • Acidity Regulator (338)
  • Caffeine (8.3 Mg/100 G)
  • Colour (150D)
  • Flavours (Natural, Nature-Identical & Artificial (Cola) Flavouring Substances)
ConcernWorth watchingIn label order. Tap a highlighted one to learn more.

EC4

Nutrition per 100 ml
ENutritionCIngredients4Risk
VerdictPOOR
Energy42 kcal
Protein0 g
Carbohydrates10.6 g
Total sugars10.4 g
Added sugars10.4 g
Total fat0 g
Saturated fat0 g
Trans fat0 g
Sodium0.81 mg
Highlighted values exceed FSSAI and UK FSA front of pack thresholds.

Our take

CleanPlate review

A cola with 10 g of sugar per 100 ml

Thums Up is a carbonated cola of water, sugar, phosphoric acid, caffeine (8.3 mg per 100 ml), caramel colour (150d) and a blend of natural, nature-identical and artificial cola flavours. The bottle is 300 ml.

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, flavouring and phosphoric acid. The 4 for risk comes mainly from free sugar (10.4 g per 100 ml). The caffeine statement sets a floor of 4 on this axis.

Claims vs reality

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

  • Retail listing

    “Contains caffeine”

    Holds

    The ingredient list states 8.3 mg of caffeine per 100 ml, about 25 mg in a 300 ml bottle.

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
42 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)
Artificial flavour or colour
Yes

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
10.4 g
Sodium
0.81 mg
Saturated fat
0 g
Trans fat
0 g

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, phosphoric acid (338), caffeine 8.3 mg per 100 ml, caramel colour (150d) and flavours (natural, nature-identical and artificial cola).

Per 100 ml: 42 kcal, 0 g fat of which 0 g saturated, 10.4 g sugar of which 10.4 g added, 0 g protein, 0.81 mg sodium. The catalogue prints the panel per 100 g for a drink; it is read as per 100 ml. Sodium is 0.81 mg in the text and 0 in the structured field. No fibre or cholesterol line.

Ingredients to watch

  • Free sugarConcern

    10.4 g per 100 ml, about 31 g in a 300 ml bottle.

  • Caramel colour 150dWorth watching

    Sulphite-ammonia caramel costs 4 points in the ingredient score.

  • CaffeineWorth watching

    8.3 mg per 100 ml; the caffeine statement sets a floor of 4 on the risk score.

  • SodiumFine

    Almost none: 0.81 mg per 100 ml.

Common misconceptions

Myth: "A cola is just fizzy water"

All of its 42 kcal per 100 ml comes from 10.4 g of sugar; a 300 ml bottle has about 31 g.

Myth: "The caffeine is the problem"

At about 25 mg a bottle it is small next to a cup of coffee; the sugar is the larger concern.

How often, and how

  • Healthy adultsOccasionally
  • ChildrenRarely
  • Diabetes or prediabetesLimit

Smarter ways to eat it

Sparkling water with lime

Keeps the fizz and the sour edge without the sugar.

Small glass

If you do drink it, a 150 ml glass has about 16 g of sugar.

Common questions

Is Thums Up Soft Drink healthy?

Thums Up 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: High added sugar (10.4g per 100ml); 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 Thums Up Soft Drink should I watch?

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

Last reviewed October 10, 2026. Scored with the CleanPlate method from the published label.

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