Pepsi Zero Sugar — DUMP
Munch or Dump rates Pepsi Zero Sugar by PepsiCo Inc. DUMP — score 20/90.
A lab-built diet cola: carbonated water dyed brown with caramel color, made sweet by two artificial sweeteners, acidified, preserved, and flavored. Zero sugar doesn't make it food.
Why this verdict
- Two artificial sweeteners (acesulfame-K + sucralose/aspartame) engineered for craving, not nutrition
- Caramel color 150d, a cosmetic dye with no purpose but appearance
- Phosphoric and citric acid erode tooth enamel
- Sodium benzoate preservative plus added caffeine
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) with zero real food inside
Ingredients (10)
- Carbonated Water (safe) — Just water and CO2, the neutral base of the drink.
- Caramel color (150d) (concerning) — Class IV caramel coloring; purely cosmetic and can contain 4-MEI, a compound flagged in animal studies.
- Phosphoric acid (338) (concerning) — Acidity regulator that erodes tooth enamel and is linked to lower bone density with heavy cola intake.
- Citric acid (330) (moderate) — Acidity regulator; contributes to enamel erosion in acidic sodas.
- Acesulfame Potassium (950) (concerning) — Intense artificial sweetener; trains the palate for extreme sweetness with no calories.
- Sucralose / Aspartame (955/951) (concerning) — Second artificial sweetener stacked for taste; emerging evidence links non-nutritive sweeteners to gut and metabolic effects.
- Sodium benzoate (211) (moderate) — Preservative; can form benzene with vitamin C, and a common additive in processed drinks.
- Caffeine (moderate) — ~41mg per can, mild stimulant. Reinforces the habit-forming pull of the drink.
- natural flavouring (moderate) — Undefined flavour additive tuning palatability.
- Stabilizer (436) (moderate) — Polysorbate stabilizer; an industrial emulsifier with no nutritional role.