Coke vs Sprite: Nutrition and Ingredients Report

I recently stumbled upon an online discussion comparing soft drinks. Many comments centered around the health benefits (and detriments) of carbonated beverages produced and distributed by the Coca-Cola Company.

Comment topics varied from how much sugar is in the drinks to caffeine content, taste, and ingredients. I spend most of my days researching and writing about processed foods and drinks. So the heated debate and various opinions sparked my interest. And I realized it’s a great topic to cover on Nutrition & Ingredients.

Americans have individual needs when it comes to nutrition and good health. The reference guides we publish on Nutrition & Ingredients aim to help consumers learn more about nutritional content and ingredients in packaged foods.

This report is an in-depth comparison of Coke vs. Sprite. Even though this is only a two drink head-to-head comparison, there’s a lot to cover.

Discuss your individual dietary needs with your physician and decide which of these two beverages is the best soft drink for you.

Coke and Sprite Nutritional Information

One of the first steps to take when comparing food and drinks is to review the nutrition facts labels.

Nutritional Summary

The following table summarizes the nutritional content of Original Taste Coca-Cola and Sprite.

(per 12 fl. oz.)	COKE	SPRITE
Calories	140	140
Fat	0g	0g
Carbs	39g	38g
Total Sugars	39g	38g
Added Sugars	39g	38g
Sodium	45mg	65mg
Protein	0g	0g
Caffeine	34mg	0mg

Neither Coke nor Sprite is a significant source of saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, dietary fiber, Vitamin D, calcium, iron, or potassium.

Based on Original Taste Coca-Cola and Regular Sprite.

When comparing the nutritional value of these two drinks, there is no real difference, except for the presence of caffeine in Coca-Cola. Sprite is caffeine free.

Sprite is a caffeine free drink.

Calories

Coke and Sprite each derive 100% of the 140 calories per serving from carbohydrates, all of which are added sugars.

Coca-Cola contains 39 grams of sugar per serving. Sprite has essentially the same amount of total sugars with a reported 38 grams per 12 fluid ounces.

Calories

fat

carbohydrates (SUGARS)

100%

Protein

Per 12 ounces

The difference between the amount of carbohydrates is nominal. However, an original Coke has one gram carbohydrate more than Sprite. As such, it’s clear there is a bit of rounding in the calculation of total calories.

Despite the minor difference in carbs, a 12 ounce can of either drink contains 140 calories.

Coke and Sprite on sale at the grocery store.

100% of calories are derived from Added Sugars

These carbonated drinks are available in many different sizes, from a mini 7.5 ounce can to a 2-Liter bottle.

Here is a comparison of the total number of calories per container. For larger-sized bottles (1.25L and 2L), a measured serving is 12 fluid ounces. The 2 Liter bottle, for example, contains about 6 servings (6 servings x 140 calories per serving = 840 total calories).

Total Calories per Container

	Servings	COKE	SPRITE
7.5 fl. oz.	1	90	90
12 fl. oz. (360mL)	1	140	140
16.9 fl. oz.	1	200	200
20 fl. oz.	1	240	240
1.25 Liter	3.5	490	490
2 Liter	6	840	840

Bottle of Coke with text illustrating 840 calories per 2 Liters. — 2 Liters of Coke contains 840 calories.

The percentage of calories consumed from beverages has significantly increased in the U.S. A study of the shifts in consumption of beverages reported that total calories derived from beverages nearly doubled from 12% in 1965 to 21% in 2002.

Total Sugars

As mentioned above, total calories are derived from sugars. There are 39 grams of sugar in a 12 oz can of Coca-Cola (38g in Sprite). Here is the total amount of sugar by size:

Grams of Sugar per Container

	COKE	SPRITE
7.5 fl. oz.	25g	24g
12 fl. oz.	39g	38g
16.9 fl. oz.	55g	54g
20 fl. oz.	65g	63g

SUGAR CONSUMPTION

A study by the Agricultural Research Service reported that the average American aged 20 years and over consumes 86 grams (females) to 107 grams (males) of sugar daily.

Ingredients and Taste

Ingredients

Both Coke and Sprite are made with carbonated water, high-fructose corn syrup, and natural flavors.

In addition, Coke contains caramel color, phosphoric acid, and caffeine. Sprite also has a couple of unique ingredients, including citric acid and sodium benzoate.

Here is the complete list of ingredients for each beverage.

INGREDIENT	COKE	SPRITE
Carbonated Water	Yes	Yes
High Fructose Corn Syrup	Yes	Yes
Caramel Color	Yes	–
Phosphoric Acid	Yes	–
Citric Acid	–	Yes
Natural Flavors	Yes	Yes
Sodium Benzoate	–	Yes
Caffeine	Yes	–

Based on Original Taste Coca Cola and Regular Lemon-Lime Sprite.

Descriptions of Ingredients

To help you better understand what’s in Coke and Sprite, here are brief explanations of each ingredient.

Carbonated Water is created by infusing still water with carbon dioxide gas that develops into small bubbles and transforms the water into a sparkling, fizzy beverage. It differs from soda water. While both types of water are bubbly, soda water contains bicarbonate of soda (i.e., baking soda), which helps the drink maintain the fizz longer than regular carbonated water.
High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is derived by adding enzymes to corn syrup (derived from corn starch) which converts the glucose into fructose (a simple sugar). As a result, the proportion of fructose in the converted corn syrup is higher compared to pure glucose in regular corn syrup (hence the term “high-fructose”). HFCS contains 42% or 55% fructose, depending on the formulation. The balance is glucose and water.

According to the American Diabetes Association, the primary source of fructose in the American diet is derived from sugar and high-fructose corn syrup.

Caramel Color is a water-soluble dark-brown liquid or solid material used in foods. It’s created by cooking sugars (dextrose, invert sugar, lactose, malt syrup, molasses, starch, or sucrose) with one or more food-grade acids, alkalis, or salts that aid in the caramelization process. Acids may include acetic acid, citric acid, phosphoric acid, or another approved source. (While we cannot confirm the formulation of the caramel color used in Coca-Cola, the list of ingredients includes Phosphoric Acid.) Approved alkalis include Ammonium Hydroxide and Potassium Hydroxide, among others.
Phosphoric Acid, a colorless crystalline liquid, is made from phosphorus (a mineral). It’s often used as a food preservative and flavoring agent. In cola drinks, it helps prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi and extends shelf-life. As an acid, it may be used as an additive in beverages to provide a tart and tangy taste, which may balance the sweetness in sugary drinks.
Citric Acid is a naturally occurring compound found in plant and animal tissues. Often extracted from lemon, lime, pineapple, or other citrus fruits, the additive is used in foods and beverages primarily as a flavoring agent and/or to improve shelf life.
Natural Flavors are the essential oils, essences, or extractives derived from spice, fruit, vegetables, or edible portions of a plant, meat, seafood, dairy products, or eggs. (Review Ingredients statement 381.118 for more information.)
Sodium Benzoate is the benzoate of soda produced through a chemical neutralization process (i.e., not found naturally). The ingredient is used as an antimicrobial agent and to protect taste.
Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant that occurs naturally in various plants. It’s most commonly found in tea, coffee, cocoa, soft drinks, and chocolate.

The amount of caffeine in 12 ounces of Coke and Diet Coke is 34mg and 46mg, respectively. Sprite is a caffeine-free drink.

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Caffeine

Sprite is caffeine-free so this section provides an overview of the amount of caffeine in Coke.

A 12-ounce can of Coke contains 34 milligrams of caffeine. Diet Coke has a higher caffeine content. The same size can contains 46 milligrams of caffeine.

To put the amount of caffeine into context, the standard (smaller) 8.4-ounce can of Red Bull has more than twice the amount of caffeine. Likewise, eight ounces of a typical home-brewed coffee has approximately 95 milligrams of caffeine.

Caffeine content of red bull, coffee, and coca-cola. — Amount of caffeine in Red Bull, Coffee, and Coke.

Caffeine-Free

The Coca-Cola Company serves a wide audience and has created a breadth of flavors and types of soft drinks to satisfy just about anyone. That includes a line of caffeine-free sodas.

Here is a list of the company’s most popular caffeine-free soft drinks.

Caffeine-Free Coca Cola
Caffeine-Free Diet Coke
Caffeine-Free Coca Cola Zero Sugar
Seagram’s Ginger Ale
Seagram’s Diet Ginger Ale
Seagram’s Tonic and Seagram’s Seltzer
Sprite
Sprite Zero (a diet soda)
Fanta
Fanta Grape
Fanta Zero Orange

If you want to know whether your favorite drink contains caffeine, check the labels printed on the packaging. It’s typically listed within the nutrition facts label, within (or near) the list of ingredients, or on the front of the package.

Compare Nutrition Facts: Sugarfree Red Bull Energy Drink

Taste

Sprite is made with 100% natural flavors and offers a refreshing crisp lemon-lime taste. The carbonation can give the flavor a bit more punch and acidity.

Coke is one of the best-selling sodas in the world. It’s often described as having a sweet, slightly tangy flavor. Some consumers describe the taste of cola to be vanilla and spice. Others state that the drink has a caramel taste with a sweet undertone that lingers longer than Sprite.