Pack image shown to identify the product. Decode Label is independent of Tang and is not sponsored or endorsed by it. Trademarks
Brand owned by Mondelez International (United States) · about the brand
Lemon
Decode Label Safety Score
How we got 1.8 ShowHide
Methodology v3.1 (updated 8 Oct 2026) — what changed
This beverage is primarily a source of added sugar, which the WHO recommends limiting. A significant concern is the presence of Titanium Dioxide (E171), which the EU has banned as a food additive due to genotoxicity concerns when ingested. The product also contains an undisclosed 'Colour', which reduces transparency. While fortified with vitamins, these do not offset the primary concerns of high sugar and the presence of a controversial food additive.
At a glance
From the declared label — not a lab testFindings to weigh
What’s favorable
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
- ZINC OXIDE
High added sugar; contains Titanium Dioxide (E171) and undisclosed colour
This beverage contains a high amount of added sugar, which should be consumed in moderation as per WHO guidelines. It also includes Titanium Dioxide (E171), an additive that the EU has banned in food due to potential genotoxicity concerns when swallowed. The specific 'Colour' used is not disclosed, which impacts transparency. While it provides some vitamins, these do not outweigh the concerns regarding sugar content and the presence of a controversial additive.
Consider this product carefully if you are
- Looking for a lower-sugar option — Added sugar is 96 g per 100 g.
- Avoiding certain additives or colours — Titanium Dioxide is declared.
Concern breakdown
Score out of 10 · higher = fewer concernsHow this product performs on each concern we check for beverage. This is a breakdown of the same evidence behind the score above — not a separate verdict.
Infants under 1
AvoidContains added sugar, which is not recommended for infants under 1 year of age.
Toddlers & young children (1–5)
LimitContains high added sugar, which can contribute to dental caries and unhealthy dietary patterns in young children. Limit consumption.
Why the score is capped
Contains Titanium Dioxide (E171) — which EFSA concluded can no longer be considered safe as a food additive, because genotoxicity could not be ruled out. (Safe on skin: this concern is specific to swallowing it.)
Rule F-CAP-10 · Source: IARC / EFSA classification of the additive
Highly processed (NOVA) and high in sugar
Rule F-CAP-07
Colour not disclosed — the label does not say which substance this is
Rule F-CAP-13
What's good
Fortified with essential vitamins (C, D) and minerals (Zinc)
Uses natural colours like Curcumin and Beta Carotenes
Watch out for
High added sugar content, which should be consumed in moderation
Presence of Titanium Dioxide (E171), a food additive banned in the EU due to genotoxicity concerns
Undisclosed 'Colour' ingredient reduces transparency
Ingredient Concerns safety database
Sources cited below may be Indian (FSSAI) or international (EU, US, WHO, IARC) — an international classification or law is evidence, not an Indian regulatory finding.
Titanium Dioxide (E171)
EFSA concluded in 2021 that titanium dioxide can no longer be considered safe as a food additive, citing genotoxicity concerns, and the EU banned its use in food from August 2022. It is still used in some cosmetics where skin absorption is the concern. Indian regulations are under review.
Regulatory & scientific authority Source: EFSA 2021; EU Regulation 2022/63
Titanium Dioxide: regulation, sources and other products →Added Sugars
Sugars added to food, and the sugars in honey, syrups and fruit juice concentrates, are "free sugars". The WHO guideline recommends that they stay below 10% of total energy intake and suggests below 5% for additional benefit. Where the sugar sits in the ingredient list and how many grams the panel declares is what matters; this is information, because the nutrition score already prices the grams.
Regulatory & scientific authority Source: WHO, Guideline: Sugars intake for adults and children (2015)
Added Sugars: regulation, sources and other products →Decode Label Analysis
Contains Titanium Dioxide (E171), which has been banned as a food additive in the EU since 2022 due to genotoxicity concerns when ingested. This concern is specific to oral consumption and does not apply to its topical use.
The product contains a high amount of added sugar. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends limiting free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake, ideally below 5%.
The specific 'Colour' ingredient is not disclosed, which raises transparency concerns and prevents a full safety assessment of this additive.
Claim check
Front-of-pack marketing claims checked against this product's actual ingredients and nutrition. "Can't verify" means the label does not provide enough information to check the claim — it is not the same as the claim being false.
Taste is a subjective attribute and cannot be verified from the provided label information.
The claim 'More Fortified' is a comparative statement, and the label does not provide a baseline or comparison point to verify this claim.
The nutrition information shows Vitamin C at 30 mg, Vitamin D at 5 mcg, and Zinc at 4.2 mg per serving, which are significant amounts.
Read straight from the back-of-pack photo — quantities, sections and any disguised terms, so the small print can’t hide behind the marketing.
-
1.
Sugar
-
2.
Citric AcidAcid (Citric Acid)
-
3.
Tricalcium PhosphateAnticaking Agent (Tricalcium Phosphate)
-
4.
Natural Lemon Flavour
-
5.
VitaminsVitamins (Vitamin C, Vitamin D)
-
Vitamin C within Vitamins
-
Vitamin D within Vitamins
-
6.
Xanthan GumThickeners (Xanthan Gum, Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose)
-
Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose within Xanthan Gum
-
7.
ColoursColours (Curcumin, Beta Carotenes, Titanium Dioxide, Copper Chlorophyll)
-
Curcumin within Colours synthetic colour
-
Beta Carotenes within Colours synthetic colour
-
Titanium Dioxide within Colours synthetic colour
-
Copper Chlorophyll within Colours synthetic colour
-
8.
Zinc Oxide
In label order — normally largest quantity first. Select a row for the full write-up and sources.
The label declares each of these as a blend and then lists what is in it. The components appear in the groups above on their own merits, so the blend itself is shown here rather than counted a second time.
✓ Decode Label Assessment: Favorable ⚠ Decode Label Assessment: Concern Decode Label Assessment: Neutral
Who should take caution
About this ingredient
Declared on this label as
No detailed safety data in our database yet for this ingredient.
Learn More
| Energy | 98 kcal |
| Protein | 0 g |
| Carbohydrate | 24 g |
| Total Sugars | 24 g |
| Added Sugars | 24 g |
| Total Fat | 0 g |
| Saturated Fat | 0 g |
| Trans Fat | 0 g |
| Dietary Fibre | 0.01 g |
| Sodium | 1.13 mg |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg |
| Vitamin C | 30 mg |
| Vitamin D | 5 mcg |
| Zinc | 4.2 mg |
Colour shows the per-100g level (green = low, amber = moderate, red = high), calculated from the declared serving — this label prints per-serving figures only.
Compare with other fruit juice products
Assessed using the same Decode Label methodology, sorted by score. Each score reflects the information available for that product at the time of assessment.
Also on this shelf
More Fruit Juice & Nectar products we've analysed, in name order.
What are the ingredients in Lemon?
The label of Lemon lists 15 ingredients, in label order: Sugar, Citric Acid, Tricalcium Phosphate, Natural Lemon Flavour, Vitamins, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose, Colour, Curcumin, Beta Carotenes, Titanium Dioxide, Copper Chlorophyll, ZINC OXIDE. Flagged by the analysis: Titanium Dioxide, Natural Lemon Flavour.
Is Lemon safe to eat?
Lemon scores 1.8/10 on Decode Label (Concerning). This beverage contains a high amount of added sugar, which should be consumed in moderation as per WHO guidelines. It also includes Titanium Dioxide (E171), an additive that the EU has banned in food due to potential genotoxicity concerns when swallowed. The specific 'Colour' used is not disclosed, which impacts transparency. While it provides some vitamins, these do not outweigh the concerns regarding sugar content and the presence of a controversial additive.
Why does Lemon score 1.8/10?
Flagged in the score: Presence of Titanium Dioxide (E171), a food additive banned in the EU due to genotoxicity concerns. Also noted: High added sugar content, which should be consumed in moderation. Undisclosed 'Colour' ingredient reduces transparency.
Who should avoid Lemon?
The points the analysis notes are most relevant to: Avoiding Titanium Dioxide (E171); Limiting added sugar intake; Sensitive to food additives; Seeking full ingredient transparency.
Is Lemon suitable for babies or young children?
Infants under 1: Avoid. Toddlers & young children (1–5): Limit.
Is Lemon high in sugar?
Yes — 96 g of total sugar per 100 g, above the 22.5 g per 100 g that UK front-of-pack labelling marks as high. The label declares 96 g of that as added sugar per 100 g.
Are the claims on the Lemon pack accurate?
Decode Label checked 3 claims against the ingredient list and nutrition panel. "Great Taste." — can't be verified from the label. "More Fortified." — can't be verified from the label.
Is Lemon vegetarian?
Lemon is marked vegetarian, and contains no animal-derived ingredients.
Answers are generated from this product's own Decode Label analysis — the score, the ingredient list and the label claims shown above. Always check the pack itself for allergen and dietary information.
Reader reviews
How the product performed for people who used it — taste, value, everyday experience. Separate from the Decode Label score above, which rates what is on the label.
Sign in to leave a review.
Sign in →No reviews yet — be the first to share your experience.
Help us keep this accurate
Two quick questions about our analysis — not about the product.
Was this analysis helpful?
Tells us whether the breakdown above actually answered your question.
0 of 0 readers found this analysis helpful
Does your pack match this page?
Recipes change and packs get reformulated. If the ingredients or the panel on the pack in your hand differ from what we show, tell us and we will check it.
About this analysis: Based on declared label information and available evidence. Decode Label does not independently laboratory-test products, and a score is not a regulatory determination or medical advice.
Disclaimer: Safety scores are Decode Label-generated assessments based on publicly available regulatory data (FSSAI, WHO, EFSA, IARC) and peer-reviewed research. They are not a substitute for professional medical advice, and they are not a regulatory determination, a laboratory safety certification or a medical diagnosis. Ingredient safety can vary by individual health conditions, concentration, and usage context. Decode Label is an independent information service and scores every brand by the same rules. No brand pays for or influences its score. Our founder also founded the personal-care brand Botani Bestie (see our story); its products are scored exactly like everyone else's. Data limitations: This assessment is based on the information declared on the product label and the evidence sources above — Decode Label does not independently laboratory-test this product. Ingredient concentrations, sourcing and manufacturing can vary between batches and are not always disclosed. A finding that is not shown here means it was not identified from the available label information, not that it has been ruled out.
Report Error
If you believe this score is inaccurate, provide details below. Our team reviews every report and will update the rating if warranted.
Report submitted
Our team will review your report and update the rating if the evidence warrants it. Thank you for helping keep our data accurate.
Share this product
Lemon
Link copied — paste it in your Instagram bio or Story!