Is Antioxidant Sparkling Water Vegan?

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist, I scrutinize every component to ensure it aligns with a vegan lifestyle. Let's look at the specific ingredients in this beverage. The base is simply carbonated water, which is always vegan. For sweetness, the formula uses erythritol and enzyme modified stevia extract. Erythritol is a sugar alcohol found naturally in some fruits, and stevia comes from the Stevia rebaudiana plant. Both are excellent vegan-friendly alternatives to sugar.

For flavor and color, the product lists natural cranberry and grapefruit flavors, vegetable juice, and fruit juice. While 'natural flavors' can sometimes be a gray area, in the context of fruit-flavored beverages, they are almost exclusively derived from plant sources. The vegetable and fruit juices provide the pink and red hues without relying on carmine (crushed beetles), a common non-vegan red dye.

The 'antioxidant' claim comes from white tea solids and green coffee bean extract, both of which are plant-derived. The vitamin blend, including niacinamide, d-calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin a palmitate, and cyanocobalamin, is synthetic or derived from non-animal sources. Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) is particularly noteworthy; while B12 is naturally found in animal products, the version used in supplements and fortified foods is produced via bacterial fermentation, making it vegan.

Nutritional Value

From a nutritional standpoint, this sparkling water is designed to be a low-impact beverage. It contains zero calories and zero sugar, relying on non-nutritive sweeteners like erythritol and stevia. This makes it an excellent choice for those monitoring their caloric intake or managing blood sugar levels. The addition of caffeine provides a functional energy boost comparable to a weak cup of tea, while the vitamin complex helps bridge common nutritional gaps. It fits well within the limits of most health-conscious diets, including keto and low-carb plans.