Is Sparkling cherry lime Halal?

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist, I look at the source material, not just the name. The base of this drink consists of sparkling water and apple juice concentrate, both of which are unequivocally Halal. The acidity and tartness come from clarified key lime juice concentrate and clarified lemon juice concentrate. The clarification process usually removes solid particulates but does not introduce non-Halal elements.

The color and berry flavor are derived from sour cherry juice concentrate and purple carrot juice concentrate. These are natural, plant-based colorants and flavor sources that are safe for consumption. However, the ingredient natural flavor is the single biggest flag in this formulation. In the beverage industry, 'natural flavor' can be derived from plant or animal sources. While it is most often fruit-based in a cherry lime drink, there is a non-zero chance it contains trace alcohol (used as a solvent) or animal-derived enzymes used in the extraction process.

Nutritional Value

From a nutritional standpoint, this beverage relies heavily on fruit juice concentrates rather than High Fructose Corn Syrup or pure cane sugar. This means the sugar content is naturally occurring fructose from apples, cherries, and carrots. While this is a 'natural' sugar, metabolically, your body processes it similarly to added sugar. You can expect a moderate calorie count, likely ranging between 40-60 calories per serving depending on the concentration of the juice blends. There is virtually no fat or protein. It fits within a standard diet, but if you are monitoring your sugar intake strictly, the juice concentrates add up quickly.