Fanta is a fruit-flavoured carbonated soft drink created by The Coca-Cola Company. Despite its name, Fanta contains no fruit juice. The flavour of the drink comes from a mixture of orange, lemon, and grapefruit oils.
It’s a drink that is loved by many, but is this soft drink vegan? Can vegans enjoy a Fanta without compromising their values?
Is Fanta Vegan?
Unfortunately, no. While Fanta may not contain animal products or by-products, many of its ingredients might be processed with animal by-products, and I’m not comfortable giving it a 100% vegan seal of approval.
Additionally, Fanta contains artificial colouring, preservatives, and sweeteners that have been tested on animals, so in addition to being non-vegan, it’s also non-cruelty free.
Fanta is produced in a factory that also produces non-vegan products. This means that there is a risk of cross contamination during the production process.
So, while Fanta may not have any animal ingredients in it, the drink is not vegan. And if you’re looking for a vegan-friendly alternative to Fanta, there are plenty of options out there from certified vegan brands. Just be sure to check the ingredients list before you buy.
What Is Fanta Made Of?
Here are the ingredients of Fanta:
- Carbonated water
- Sugar
- Orange juice from concentrate
- Citrus fruit from concentrate
- Vegetable extracts (carrot, pumpkin)
- Sweeteners (acesulfame K, sucralose)
- High fructose corn syrup
- Citric acid
- Preservative (potassium sorbate)
- Malic acid
- Antioxidant (ascorbic acid)
- Acidity regulator (sodium citrate)
- Stabiliser (guar gum)
- Natural flavours
- Modified food starch
- Sodium polyphosphates
- Glycerol ester of rosin
- Artificial colours (Yellow 6, Red 40)
Let’s break down each ingredient of Fanta:
Carbonated water
Carbonated water is water that has been infused with carbon dioxide gas. This gives the water a fizzy, bubbly texture. This vegan-friendly ingredient does not contain any animal derivatives.
Sugar
Sugar is controversial with vegans because it’s often processed using animal bone char. However, not all sugar is processed this way. Some, like beet sugar and cane sugar, are not processed with animal bone char. At the time of publication, I had not heard back from the company to confirm if their sugar is processed with bone char.
Orange Juice From Concentrate
Orange juice from concentrate does not contain any animal derivatives. This ingredient is simply oranges that have been juiced and then had the water removed from them, resulting in a more concentrated form of orange juice.
Citrus Fruit From Concentrate
Like orange juice from concentrate, citrus fruit from concentrate does not contain any animal derivatives. This ingredient is simply citrus fruits that have been juiced and then had the water removed from them, resulting in a more concentrated form of citrus juice.
Vegetable Extracts (Carrot, Pumpkin)
Vegetable extracts do not contain any animal derivatives. These ingredients are simply vegetables that have been juiced and then had the water removed from them, resulting in a more concentrated form of vegetable juice.
Sweeteners (Acesulfame K, Sucralose)
Acesulfame K and sucralose are artificial sweeteners that do not contain any animal derivatives. These sweeteners are often used in place of sugar to give a product a sweet taste without the addition of calories.
High Fructose Corn Syrup
High fructose corn syrup is a sweetener made from corn. It is created by breaking down corn starch into glucose and fructose molecules. High fructose corn syrup does not contain any animal products and is not processed with animal by-products, so it is vegan.
Citric Acid
Citric acid is a naturally occurring acid found in citrus fruits. It is often used as a preservative or to add an acidic flavour. Citric acid does not contain any animal products and is vegan friendly.
Malic Acid
Malic acid is a naturally occurring acid found in fruits and vegetables. It is often used to add an acidic flavour. This ingredient does not contain any animal products or by-products.
Antioxidant (Ascorbic Acid)
Ascorbic acid is a form of vitamin C. It is often used as a preservative or to add a sour flavour. The ingredient does not contain any animal products or by-products.
Acidity Regulator (Sodium Citrate)
Sodium citrate is a salt made from citric acid and sodium. It is often used to regulate the acidity of a product. This ingredient does not contain any animal products or by-products.
Stabiliser (Guar gum)
Guar gum is a stabiliser made from the seeds of the guar plant. It is often used to prevent ingredients from separating. This ingredient does not contain any animal products or by-products.
Preservatives (Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate)
Sodium benzoate is a preservative that is often used in food and drinks. It does not contain any animal products or by-products, so it’s technically vegan. However, it is tested on animals such as Wistar rats and involves decapitating the animal, so it’s not cruelty free.
Potassium sorbate is a preservative made from potassium and sorbic acid. It is often used to prevent the growth of mould and bacteria. This vegan-friendly ingredient does not contain any animal products or by-products.
Natural Flavours
Natural flavours is an umbrella term that can refer to a wide variety of flavours. These flavours can be extracted from plant or animal sources. In the case of Fanta, there really is no way to know because The Coca-Cola company does not disclose this information.
The company only states that the flavours are “vegan.” However, strict vegans should be careful with “natural flavours” because they come from different sources, some of which may use animals.
Modified food starch
Modified food starch is a type of starch that has been modified to change its properties. It is often used as a thickener or stabiliser. Modified food starch does not contain any animal derivatives, but it may be produced with oleic acid, which comes from animal sources. While some vegan organisations consider modified food starch to be vegan, others don’t, so strict vegans should beware.
Sodium polyphosphates
Sodium polyphosphates are chemicals that are often used in food as a preservative or to add flavour. They do not contain any animal derivatives nor are they tested on animals.
Glycerol ester of rosin
Glycerol ester of rosin is a type of resin that is derived from pine trees. It is often used as an emulsifier or stabiliser. While the resin itself is vegan, the glycerin needed to produce it may be derived from vegetable oil or animal fat. There’s no way to know for sure, so we can’t say that this ingredient is certifiably vegan. Very strict vegans may want to watch out for this ingredient.
Artificial colours (Yellow, Red)
Yellow and Red are two of the most common artificial colours used in food and drinks, to give them a more appealing colour. These do not contain any animal derivatives. However, they may have been tested on animals during their development, so they are not considered cruelty-free.
Why Isn’t Fanta Vegan?
Fanta comes in different flavours, all with different ingredients. While some of the ingredients are vegan, you can’t actually be sure of others. The main reason Fanta is not vegan is that it contains sweeteners, preservatives, thickeners, and artificial colours, all of which may or may not be derived from animals. It’s also certainly not cruelty free, because many of the ingredients may be subject to animal testing. As with most Coca-Cola Company products, Fantas aren’t really vegan by today’s standards, especially in the UK, where veganism continues to grow.
Queries such as “Is Coca-Cola vegan UK?” and “Is Fanta vegan?” are common, but the answer isn’t really clear. The Coca-Cola Company has responded that their products are “suitable for vegetarians and vegans” but they didn’t really give a clear answer regarding bone char contamination or other animal-derived ingredients.
Is Fanta Grape Vegan?
No. Fanta Grape is not vegan because it contains preservatives that I can’t confirm are vegan. The drink also contains artificial colours that may or may not have been tested on animals. It may say that it is vegan on the label, but it is certainly not vegan by strict standards.
Is Fanta Piña Colada Vegan?
No. Piña Colada is claimed to be a “100% natural flavour.” However, it is not cruelty free because it contains artificial colors that may have been subject to animal testing during development. The drink also contains preservatives that are often processed with animal products. It may say that it is vegan on the label, but it is not vegan by strict standards.
Is Fanta Peach Vegan?
No. Fanta Peach is not vegan because it contains preservatives that are not considered vegan. Fanta Peach also contains artificial colours that may or may not have been tested on animals. It is not vegan by strict standards.
Is Fanta Mango Vegan?
No. Fanta Mango is not vegan because it contains preservatives that are often processed using animal products. It also contains artificial colours that may or may not have been tested on animals. This drink may have some vegan ingredients, but it is not vegan by strict standards.
Is Fanta Berry Vegan?
No. Fanta Berry is not vegan because it contains preservatives that are not vegan friendly. The drink also contains artificial colours that may or may not have been tested on animals. It is not vegan by strict standards.
Is Fanta Orange Vegan?
No. While Fanta Orange uses orange juice concentrate as its primary flavour, it also contains preservatives that are not vegan friendly. It also lists food dyes that are often tested on animals, which makes Fanta not cruelty free. It is not vegan by strict standards.
Vegan Alternatives to Fanta
These brands do not use any animal products or by-products in their ingredients or in the manufacturing process. They do not engage in animal testing, so they’re legitimately cruelty free as well.
Zevia is a popular alternative to Fanta that does not use any artificial sweeteners, colours, or flavours.
Belle & Co’s Sparkling White drink is also a good alternative.
Dash Water is another good vegan alternative that does not use any artificial sweeteners, flavours, or food dyes.
Honest lemon is a good alternative for those who are looking for a Fanta alternative that is not only vegan but also uses all-natural ingredients. It uses organic cane sugar and is free from artificial sweeteners.
As you can see, there are many vegan alternatives to Fanta available on the market. You can find these products at most health food stores or online.
Final Words
As we’ve seen, there are a few reasons why Fanta is not vegan friendly. While some less-strict vegans might believe that the ingredients are vegan, it’s probably not actually completely vegan and it is certainly not cruelty free.
Depending on your vegan lifestyle, you may or may not want to consume this product. There are plenty of delicious vegan alternatives available on the market today that are just as good, if not better, than Fanta!
As usual, it’s always smart to check a food’s ingredients before consuming, especially if you follow a vegan diet.