Review Article

Health Safety of Soft Drinks: Contents, Containers, and Microorganisms

Table 1

Types of soft drinks.

Type of soft drinkDescription

Bottled waterPotable water, water with flavorings and minerals/vitamins.
(i) Still water: noncarbonated, mineral, spring or table water, with or without added flavorings and vitamins/minerals.
(ii) Carbonated water: mineral, spring or table water, low carbonated waters, naturally sparkling or sparkling by CO2 injection.
(iii) Flavored water: unsweetened water, with essences and/or aromatic substances.

Bulk/hot waterPotable water sold in packs of over 10 L for use in dispensers.

CarbonatesSweetened, beverages with carbon dioxide, syrups for home dilution and out-of-home carbonated soft drinks.

Juice100% pure fruit or vegetable juice without ingredients, except permitted minerals and vitamins, with sweetening agents (less than 2%).

NectarsDiluted fruit/vegetable juice and pulp, with sweetening agents, minerals, and vitamins.

Still drinksFlavored ready-to-drink, noncarbonated beverages, containing fruit or nonfruit flavors or juice content (to 25%).

Squash/syrupsNon-ready-to-drink products, marketed as concentrates for home consumption including fruit and non-fruit-based products and flavors.

Fruit powdersNon-ready-to-drink products in powder form.

Iced/ready-to-drink tea/coffee drinksTea-based or coffee-based drinks and non-ready-to-drink powders and liquid concentrates for dilution.

Sports drinksProducts described as “isotonic,” “hypertonic,” or “hypotonic,” still or carbonated, ready-to-drink, or non-ready-to-drink powders and concentrates; also fruit and nonfruit flavored drinks.

Energy drinksEnergy-enhancing drinks, mainly carbonated and containing taurine, guarana, glucose, caffeine, exotic herbs and substances, minerals, and vitamins.