Dr Pepper Ingredients and Nutrition Facts Review

Although Dr. Pepper was a real person after whom the popular drink was named, he doesn’t get credit for the creation of the sweet, peppery soda. Rather, the cola style drink was developed by a pharmacist in Waco, Texas in 1885.

Dr Pepper contains a unique blend of various flavors, including caramel, cherry, and vanilla. It tastes sweet with a mild kick of pepper, notes of citrus, and a hint of nuts and vanilla. That’s a lot of flavor in one drink.

There are 240 calories and 68 milligrams of caffeine in a standard 20-ounce bottle of Dr Pepper.

Read this guide for a complete overview of the calories, nutrition facts, and ingredients in Dr Pepper.

Dr Pepper Nutritional Information

Calories

A bottle of 20 fluid ounces has 240 calories.

There is zero fat and zero protein in Dr Pepper. Accordingly, 100% of calories is derived from carbohydrates. Moreover, nearly all carbohydrates are added sugars.

Dr Pepper

% calories from fat, carbs and protein

0% FAT

100% CARBS

0% PROTEIN

Total Sugars

There are 66 grams of total carbs in a 20oz drink. Nearly all of the carbohydrates are added sugars (high fructose corn syrup).

High Amount of Added Sugars

Dr Pepper contains high fructose syrup (an added sugar). However, to understand the amount of sugar in one drink, we measured 65 grams of table sugar. It’s approximately 1/3 cup.

1/3 cup of sugar on scale with weight of 65 grams. — 65 grams of sugar is about 1/3 cup

For reference, Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggest limiting calories from added sugars to less than 10% of total calories. A serving (20 fl oz) of Dr Pepper has 240 calories from added sugars. That is high.

65 grams added sugars (high fructose corn syrup) per 20 fl oz serving.

Individual calorie needs vary. Consult your physician for dietary advice. Nutritional information in this guide is based on a 2,000 calorie daily diet, the standard measure used by the FDA for general nutrition guidance.

Nutrition Facts

Amount per 20 fluid ounces

Red indicates %DV is high.

Calories

240

		%DV
Total Fat	0g	0%
Saturated Fat	0g	0%
Trans Fat	0g
Cholesterol	0mg	0%
Sodium	95mg	4%
Carbohydrates	66g	24%
Dietary Fiber	0g	0%
Total Sugars	65g
Added Sugars	65g	129%
Protein	0g

%DV based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Calorie needs vary and your %DV may be higher or lower. Provided for informational purposes only. Consult with your physician for dietary or healthcare advice.

240 calories in a 20-ounce serving of Dr Pepper derived from sugars

65 grams of table sugar on a small scale — ^{Illustrative example of the amount of sugar.}

Sodium

In addition to the sugar in this sweet drink, there are 95 milligrams of sodium per serving.

Caffeine

Dr Pepper also contains caffeine. There are 68 milligrams caffeine per 20 ounce bottle.

For comparison, an 8.4 fl. oz. can of Red Bull contains 80 milligrams of caffeine. An average brewed coffee contains 95 milligrams per cup, and a Coca-Cola has 34mg caffeine (per 12 ounces).

Caffeine content of red bull, coffee, and coca-cola. — Amount of caffeine in select drinks.

Here is a summary of the amount of caffeine in Dr Pepper, based on various serving sizes:

7.5 fl. oz. serving of Dr Pepper has 26mg of caffeine
12 fl. oz. serving of Dr Pepper has 41mg of caffeine
16.9 fl. oz. serving of Dr Pepper has 58mg of caffeine
20 fl. oz. serving of Dr Pepper has 68mg of caffeine

Compare the nutritional value of a Gatorade and review the comparison report for Coke vs Sprite. Learn more about what’s in packaged foods and drinks to make an informed decision about your diet.

YOU SHOULD KNOW

Dr Pepper does not provide a significant source of saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, dietary fiber, vitamin D, calcium, iron, or potassium.

Dr Pepper Ingredients and Allergens

Ingredients

The recipe for Dr Pepper is known for containing a unique blend of 23 flavors. The actual recipe, however, is proprietary so the underlying details and specific flavors are hidden away in secret.

That said, with much speculation, the unconfirmed list of natural and/or artificial flavors may include:

Almond, amaretto, blackberry, black licorice, caramel, carrot, clove, cherry, cola, ginger, juniper, lemon, molasses, nutmeg, orange, plum, prune, pepper, raspberry, root beer, rum, tomato, and vanilla.

Here is the list of disclosed ingredients in Dr Pepper.

Original Dr Pepper Ingredients
Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Phosphoric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Sodium Benzoate, Caffeine

Bottle of Dr Pepper and text list of ingredients.

Caramel color is a generic term that refers to a specific process of cooking sugars with one or more food-grade acids, alkalis, or salts.

There are many commercially processed and packaged foods that list caramel color as an ingredient, including Original Coca-Cola, McDonald’s Sausage McGriddle, and Golden Crisp cereal.

Phosphoric Acid is an inorganic compound acid derived from phosphorus and used to control pH levels in foods and beverages.

Sodium Benzoate is the sodium salt of benzoic acid. It has antifungal and antibacterial properties and used as a preservative to inhibit the growth of bacteria, yeast and mold in food products.

The additive is commonly used in jams, olives, beer, fruit, yogurt, and canned vegetables.

YOU SHOULD KNOW

Studies have shown that acids in bottled drinks contribute to dental erosion. As the pH level in the oral cavity drops, the tooth surface softens and erodes.

Allergens

The FDA recognizes nine foods as major allergens, including milk, eggs, fish, peanuts, sesame, shellfish, soy, tree nuts, and wheat.

Dr Pepper is not made with any of the items that are considered common allergens.

Review Soft Drinks Nutrition Reports

Nutrition facts, prices, and ingredients are based on available information as of the date of publication. Restaurants and food manufacturers may change recipes or formulations without notice. Check package labels and ask the product manufacturer or restaurant for the most up-to-date information. Unless otherwise stated, %DV is based on a 2,000 calorie diet. All reports and reviews published on this site are for informational purposes only. NutritionandIngredients.com does not provide healthcare advice or dietary recommendations. Always consult your licensed physician for any healthcare or dietary advice.

Nutrition facts and ingredients source: Dr Pepper/Seven Up Inc.