Carbohydrate sugars used in carbonated soft drinks can be divided into those in a dry, granular form and those in liquid or syrup form or in certain circumstances, wheat.
Sucrose is among the most common natural sweetness used in soft drinks. Also approved are dextrose (glucose), inverts sugar, fructose, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup and glucose syrup.
Sugar can make up to about 13% of the drink content and gives the beverages its characteristics sweetness level.
Interacting with other ingredients, the sweetness determines the overall characteristics taste profile accepted by the consumer.
Carbonated drinks are the single biggest source of refined sugar in the American diet, Soft drinks are also the fifth-largest source of calories for adults.
Sugar in soft drinks
