Saranac Shirley Temple Hand-Crafted Soft Drink — DUMP

Munch or Dump rates Saranac Shirley Temple Hand-Crafted Soft Drink by Saranac DUMP — score 17/90.

A 'hand-crafted' soda that's really HFCS plus aspartame, artificial flavors, and two artificial dyes (Red #40, Blue #1).

Why this verdict

• High fructose corn syrup is the main sweetener - liquid sugar with no nutrition
• Doubles up with aspartame, an artificial sweetener on top of the HFCS
• Two artificial petroleum dyes - FD&C Red #40 and Blue #1 - for fake color
• Contains artificial flavors despite 'hand-crafted' branding
• Sodium benzoate preservative; ultra-processed (NOVA 4) sugar water

Ingredients (8)

• Carbonated Water (safe) — Basic component of most beverages, provides fizziness.
• High Fructose Corn Syrup (caution) — The dominant sweetener and second ingredient; drives the sugar load.
• Natural & Artificial Flavors (caution) — Synthetic flavoring system.
• sodium benzoate (caution) — Chemical preservative for shelf life.
• citric acid (safe) — Acidity and tartness adjuster.
• aspartame (moderate) — Artificial sweetener ~200x sweeter than sugar. Approved but heavily debated; keeps the drink at zero calories.
• FD&C Red 40 (concerning) — Petroleum-derived artificial dye added only for the pink color; linked to hyperactivity concerns and offers zero nutrition.
• FD&C Blue #1 (avoid) — Petroleum-derived synthetic dye used purely for color.

Healthier alternatives

• OLIPOP Classic Root Beer Prebiotic Soda
• Poppi Ginger Lime Prebiotic Soda
• Poppi Doc Pop Prebiotic Soda
• Poppi Raspberry Rose Prebiotic Soda
• OLIPOP Strawberry Vanilla Prebiotic Soda