Coca-Cola Zero — DUMP
Munch or Dump rates Coca-Cola Zero by Coca-Cola DUMP — score 17/90.
A lab-built diet cola stacking four different artificial sweeteners on top of caramel color and phosphoric acid. Zero calories, zero nutrition, and a sweetener cocktail your body never evolved to handle.
Why this verdict
- Four different non-nutritive sweeteners stacked in one drink (cyclamate, acesulfame K, aspartame, steviol glycosides)
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) with zero real food or nutrition
- Caramel coloring E150d and phosphoric acid, an enamel-eroding acid
- Contains a source of phenylalanine (aspartame) - a concern for PKU
- Intense artificial sweetness keeps you craving sweet with no upside
Ingredients (10)
- Carbonated Water (safe) — Basic component of most beverages, provides fizziness.
- Caramel coloring (E150d) (moderate) — Sulfite-ammonia caramel color; can contain 4-MEI, a compound flagged in some studies. Purely cosmetic.
- Phosphoric Acid (caution) — Acidulant giving cola its tang. Erodes tooth enamel and is associated with lower bone density at high soda intake.
- Sodium cyclamate (moderate) — Artificial sweetener banned in the US; one of four sweeteners stacked here.
- Acesulfame K (moderate) — Artificial sweetener stacked on top of aspartame to boost sweetness cheaply.
- aspartame (moderate) — Artificial sweetener ~200x sweeter than sugar. Approved but heavily debated; keeps the drink at zero calories.
- STEVIOL GLYCOSIDES (moderate) — Stevia sweetener added to mask the taste of the gluten fillers.
- Natural Flavors (safe) — Flavor compounds derived from natural sources.
- Caffeine (moderate) — Mild stimulant, 43mg per serving. Fine in moderation but makes the drink mildly habit-forming.
- Sodium Citrates (safe) — Acidity regulator/buffer, benign in this amount.