Is Jarrito, Guava Vegan?

The Ingredient Breakdown

When analyzing the label of Jarrito, Guava, we are looking for hidden animal derivatives often found in processed beverages. The ingredients list is relatively short: Carbonated water, sugar, natural flavors, citric acid, sodium benzoate, and Red 40.

The primary concern for vegan certification usually lies with sugar. In the United States, a significant portion of white sugar is refined using bone char—charred animal bones—to bleach the sugar crystals. While the sugar in Jarritos is likely sourced from cane sugar, the manufacturer does not specify if it is organic or bone-char-free. Therefore, it falls into a gray area.

Fortunately, the other ingredients are safe. Natural flavors in a guava soda are almost certainly plant-derived (guava extracts). Red 40 is a synthetic dye, and while some older red dyes were tested on animals, modern Red 40 is vegan-friendly. Citric acid is produced via fermentation of mold (usually vegan) and sodium benzoate is a salt. There are no dairy, eggs, or honey listed.

Nutritional Value

From a nutritional standpoint, Jarrito, Guava is a standard sugary soda. A standard 12.5 oz bottle contains approximately 170 calories, all of which come from carbohydrates.

The sugar content is high, usually around 44g per bottle. This is well above the American Heart Association's recommended daily limit for added sugar. While it fits a vegan diet (depending on your strictness), it does not fit well into a weight-loss or health-conscious diet. It contains zero fat and zero protein.