www.whyville.net May 30, 2003 Weekly Issue



FlyGurl89
Health Writer

Naturally Flavored?

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As I sit at my computer, drinking a delicious can of "naturally flavored" Orange Soda, I wonder... what does "naturally flavored" mean?

I quickly assume it will taste like a "natural" orange, grown from trees in Florida... but when I sip it, it doesn't JUST taste like oranges... it has that fizzily, bubbly taste Which means it's carbonated. So, I look around the can for information that has to do with what's inside.

On the cover, it has a picture of an orange with the green leaves still on it, attracting the consumer to the can. The can itself is a vibrant orange. The label says across the front of the can, "ORANGE", in a white, fancy font with green outline. The rest or the writing around the can is silver -- there it says Sam*s Choice. I guess that's the producer of the soda.

This soda is not a name-brand type. It's a supermarket brand. On the top rim, it says again, Orange, naturally flavored. Towards the bottom, after the picture of the orange, it says once again, Naturally Flavored Soda. Is having "Naturally Flavored" on the can so many times supposed to attract consumers? I'm not sure, since I don't shop for what type of food are in my house.

Underneath the final "Naturally Flavored Soda" it says '12 fl oz' (which means 12 fluid ounces) and then '(344mL)', which I guess to be 344 milliliters.

Now, on the back where the nutrition facts are listed, it says: "Very Low Sodium - Caffeine Free". And then, under Nutrition Facts, it says...

Serving size 1 can (355mL)
----------
amount per serving   % daily value*

Calories: 180

Total Fat: 0g   0%
Sodium: 35mg   1%
Total Carbs.: 28g   16%
Sugars: 48g
Protein: 0g
----------
**Not a significant source of other nutrients.
*Percent Daily values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Does that sound healthy to you? It doesn't to me!

Although drinking about 1-2 cans weekly, will not harm you, with proper exercise, and of eating other foods, this is not a good drink compared to a lot out there, and especially *water* the best thing to drink of all.

Now for the ingredients! You'd be surprised how much of it doesn't sound "natural" at all:

INGREDIENTS: Carbonated water, High fructose corn syrup, and/or sugar, citric
acid, Natural Flavor, Potassium Benzonate (A preservative) Gum acacia, Yellow 6,
Ester Gum, Brominared vegetable oil.

Now, I don't know about you, but see how it says just Natural Flavor? That gets me suspicious, because they don't even tell you what the "natural Flavor" is! and all the color added to it! and Half the things you either can't pronounce, or you have no idea what they might even be. and/or sugar? you either have it or you don't!... and one last thing -- vegetable oil? Why would we need that in a drink?! we aren't cooking, are we? Why would soda have that?

Well, this is FlyGurl89... signing off, and forevermore questioning our sodas.

 

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