Pepsi — DUMP
Munch or Dump rates Pepsi by Pepsi Cola DUMP — score 17/90.
Sugar water with caramel colour and caffeine. It's liquid sugar with nothing your body actually needs.
Why this verdict
- Sugar is the #1 solid ingredient — roughly 8-10 tsp per can, all rapidly absorbed
- Liquid sugar spikes blood glucose fast with no fibre or protein to blunt it
- Caramel colour 150d is a purely cosmetic industrial additive (potential 4-MEI contaminant)
- Caffeine adds a mild dependence loop that keeps you coming back
- Zero nutritional value — empty calories, classic ultra-processed soda
Ingredients (7)
- Carbonated Water (safe) — Basic component of most beverages, provides fizziness.
- Sugar (moderate) — Added for sweetness, can contribute to calorie content.
- Caramel colour (150d) (moderate) — Artificial-style caramel colour added purely for appearance; 150d can carry 4-MEI.
- Acidity Regulator (338 / Phosphoric Acid) (moderate) — Gives the sharp tang but is corrosive to tooth enamel and linked to lower bone density in heavy soda drinkers.
- Caffeine (moderate) — Mild stimulant, 43mg per serving. Fine in moderation but makes the drink mildly habit-forming.
- Flavour (Natural Flavouring Substances) (moderate) — Proprietary flavour blend. 'Natural' here means source-derived, but the exact composition is undisclosed and it's an engineered taste additive.
- Stabilizer (436 / Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Tristearate) (moderate) — An emulsifier/stabilizer to keep the formula uniform — a processing-only additive with no nutritional purpose.
Healthier alternatives
- Kirkland Signature Sparkling Water (Flavored Variety Pack)
- Simple Truth Black Cherry Sparkling Water
- Sparkling Water Black Cherry
- Good & Gather Lime Sparkling Water
- S. Pellegrino Water