Does blood orange contain dairy or gluten?

No, the specific ingredients list provided does not contain dairy (milk, casein) or gluten (wheat, barley). However, always check for cross-contamination warnings on the packaging.

Is blood orange good for weight loss?

No, it is not ideal. The second ingredient is high fructose corn syrup, meaning it is high in sugar and calories without providing satiety.

Where can I buy blood orange?

This specific Lipton/Pepsi product is widely available at major retailers like Walmart, Target, and grocery stores, as well as online via Amazon.

Is blood orange safe for kids?

While it contains only 9mg of caffeine (very low), the high sugar content and artificial dyes (Red 40, Yellow 6) are factors parents should consider.

Is blood orange Vegan? The Ingredient Investigator's Report

The short answer is: MAYBE. While the blood orange tea beverage contains no obvious animal products like milk or honey, it contains vague ingredients that require a closer look. This report breaks down the specific additives in this Lipton/Pepsi product to determine if it aligns with a strict vegan lifestyle.

The Ingredient Breakdown

When analyzing a product like this blood orange tea, we look beyond the marketing and dive into the chemical composition. The primary concern for vegans here isn't the tea or the fruit, but the hidden processing agents.

The most significant flag is natural flavor. While this sounds innocent, the FDA allows this term to hide proprietary flavor formulas that can technically include animal-derived processing aids or solvents. In the tea industry, natural flavor is often extracted using trace amounts of solvents, and while rare, these can be non-vegan. Without specific disclosure from the manufacturer, we cannot guarantee 100% plant-based origin.

Next, we have glycerol ester of rosin. This is a food additive derived from pine tree stumps. It is used to keep the flavor oils suspended in the water. While it is plant-derived (coniferous trees), it is a highly processed ingredient. It is generally considered vegan, but strict vegans sometimes avoid it due to the heavy chemical processing involved.

Finally, we must address the artificial colors: Red 40, Yellow 6, and Blue 1. These are synthetic dyes. Historically, some food dyes were tested on animals, and others were derived from animal sources (like cochineal), but modern synthetic dyes like these are produced in labs using petroleum derivatives. They are chemically vegan, though ethically debated due to animal testing history.

🚫 Culprit Ingredients:

natural flavor

Nutritional Value

If we strip away the flavoring and color, what you are essentially drinking is sweetened tea. The label lists high fructose corn syrup as the second ingredient, which means this beverage is high in sugar. A 12 fl oz serving contains a significant amount of added sugar, contributing to empty calories.

Regarding macronutrients, this beverage is fat-free and very low in protein. The caffeine content is listed as 9mg per 12 fl oz, which is extremely low—about 10% of a standard cup of coffee. This makes it a mild option for those sensitive to caffeine, but it offers little nutritional density beyond hydration and a small antioxidant boost from the green tea powder.