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Brand owned by Mondelez International (United States) · about the brand
Orange Instant Drink Mix
Decode Label Safety Score
How we got 1.5 ShowHide
Methodology v3.1 (updated 8 Oct 2026) — what changed
This instant mix contains a high amount of added sugar, which is a primary nutritional concern. It also includes synthetic colours Tartrazine (INS 102) and Sunset Yellow FCF (INS 110), both of which are linked to hyperactivity in children and require a warning label in the EU. While fortified with vitamins and zinc, these do not offset the concerns related to high sugar and artificial colours. The product's overall formulation is highly processed, and the specific flavouring compounds are not disclosed, limiting full transparency.
At a glance
From the declared label — not a lab testFindings to weigh
What’s favorable
- Vitamins
- Mineral (Zinc Sulphate)
High added sugar, artificial colours linked to hyperactivity in children
This instant mix is high in added sugar, which the WHO advises limiting. It contains synthetic colours Tartrazine (INS 102) and Sunset Yellow FCF (INS 110), which are associated with hyperactivity in children and require specific warnings in the European Union. The product is highly processed and does not fully disclose the specific compounds used for its natural flavouring.
Consider this product carefully if you are
- Looking for a lower-sugar option — Added sugar is 92.7 g per 100 g.
Concern breakdown
Score out of 10 · higher = fewer concernsHow this product performs on each concern we check for food. This is a breakdown of the same evidence behind the score above — not a separate verdict.
Infants under 1
AvoidContains added sugar and artificial sweeteners, which are not recommended for infants.
Toddlers & young children (1–5)
LimitContains Tartrazine (INS 102) and Sunset Yellow FCF (INS 110), synthetic colours linked to hyperactivity in children. Parents should be aware of this potential effect.
Why the score is capped
Very high added sugar
Rule F-CAP-01
Contains Tartrazine (INS 102) and Sunset Yellow (INS 110), synthetic colours linked to hyperactivity in children; the EU requires a pack warning for each
Rule F-CAP-18 · Source: McCann et al., Lancet 2007; EFSA 2009; EU Regulation 1333/2008 Annex V warning
Highly processed (NOVA) and high in sugar
Rule F-CAP-07
Flavouring not disclosed — the label does not say which substance this is
Rule F-CAP-13
What's good
Fortified with essential vitamins and zinc
Watch out for
High added sugar content
Contains synthetic colours Tartrazine (INS 102) and Sunset Yellow FCF (INS 110)
Highly processed formulation (NOVA-4)
Flavouring substances are not fully disclosed
Anticaking Agent — flagged as a moderate-level concern — see the ingredient breakdown below.
Sweetener — flagged as a moderate-level concern — see the ingredient breakdown below.
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.
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 →Flavouring Substances
Indian rules classify added flavours as natural, nature-identical (chemically synthesised copies of natural compounds) or artificial, and require the class to be declared. The label names the class, not the compounds, so a reader cannot see which substances make up the blend, or whether it carries something they avoid. This is information about transparency, not a finding of harm.
Regulatory & scientific authority Source: FSS (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations 2011, flavours; FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations 2020
Flavouring Substances: regulation, sources and other products →Decode Label Analysis
Contains Tartrazine (INS 102) and Sunset Yellow FCF (INS 110), synthetic colours linked to hyperactivity in children. The EU requires a warning label for products containing these colours.
High amount of added sugar, which contributes to overall caloric intake and is advised to be limited by WHO guidelines.
The specific compounds within 'Natural Flavouring Substances' are not disclosed, which limits full transparency regarding potential allergens or sensitivities.
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.
The label does not provide information on how many servings or glasses the product makes, so this claim cannot be verified.
The claim 'Refreshing & Tasty' is subjective and cannot be objectively verified from the provided label information.
The product name itself states 'Instant Drink Mix', which is consistent with the product type.
The ingredients list 'Orange Fruit Powder (0.9%)' and 'Natural Flavouring Substances (Orange Flavour)', confirming the addition of orange fruit powder and flavor.
The ingredients list 'Natural Flavouring Substances', which supports the claim of no artificial flavors.
Read straight from the back-of-pack photo — quantities, sections and any disguised terms, so the small print can’t hide behind the marketing.
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1.
Proprietary Food 14.1.4.3 ConcentratesPROPRIETARY FOOD 14.1.4.3 Concentrates (Liquid or Solid) for Water Based Flavoured Drinks Ingredients:
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Sugar within Proprietary Food 14.1.4.3 Concentrates
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Acidity Regulator within Proprietary Food 14.1.4.3 ConcentratesCitric acid (INS 330)Acidity Regulator (330)
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Orange Fruit Powder 0.9% within Proprietary Food 14.1.4.3 Concentrates trace amountOrange Fruit Powder (0.9%)
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Anticaking Agent within Proprietary Food 14.1.4.3 ConcentratesCalcium phosphates (INS 341)Anticaking Agent (341(ii))
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Vitamins within Proprietary Food 14.1.4.3 Concentrates
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Stabilizers within Proprietary Food 14.1.4.3 ConcentratesXanthan gum (INS 415), Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (INS 466)Stabilizers (415, 466)
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Colours within Proprietary Food 14.1.4.3 Concentrates synthetic colourTitanium dioxide (INS 171), Sunset yellow FCF (INS 110), Tartrazine (INS 102)Colours (171, 110, 102)
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Natural Flavouring Substances within Proprietary Food 14.1.4.3 Concentrates
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Sweetener within Proprietary Food 14.1.4.3 ConcentratesSucralose (INS 955)Sweetener (955)
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Iodised Salt within Proprietary Food 14.1.4.3 Concentrates
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Mineral (Zinc Sulphate) within Proprietary Food 14.1.4.3 Concentrates
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2.
Added orange contains Natural flavouring substancesAdded orange contains Natural flavouring substances (Orange Flavour).
Trace amounts: some named ingredients appear in token quantities or low in the list. At these concentrations a meaningful benefit is unlikely, and their front-of-pack prominence may not reflect their level in the formulation.
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 | 389 kcal |
| Protein | 0 g |
| Carbohydrate | 93.9 g |
| Total Sugars | 92.9 g |
| Added Sugars | 92.7 g |
| Total Fat | 0 g |
| Sodium | 35 mg |
| Vitamin C | 264.7 mg |
| Zinc | 5.2 mg |
| Vitamin D | 13.5 µg |
Colour shows the per-100g level (green = low, amber = moderate, red = high), from the product's label.
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What are the ingredients in Orange Instant Drink Mix?
The label of Orange Instant Drink Mix lists 13 ingredients, in label order: Proprietary Food 14.1.4.3 Concentrates, Sugar, Acidity Regulator, Orange Fruit Powder, Anticaking Agent, Vitamins, Stabilizers, Colour, Natural Flavouring Substances, Sweetener, Iodised Salt, Mineral (Zinc Sulphate), Added orange contains Natural flavouring substances. Flagged by the analysis: Natural Flavouring Substances, Added orange contains Natural flavouring substances, Anticaking Agent, Sweetener.
Is Orange Instant Drink Mix safe to eat?
Orange Instant Drink Mix scores 1.5/10 on Decode Label (Concerning). This instant mix is high in added sugar, which the WHO advises limiting. It contains synthetic colours Tartrazine (INS 102) and Sunset Yellow FCF (INS 110), which are associated with hyperactivity in children and require specific warnings in the European Union. The product is highly processed and does not fully disclose the specific compounds used for its natural flavouring.
Why does Orange Instant Drink Mix score 1.5/10?
What the analysis notes: High added sugar content. Contains synthetic colours Tartrazine (INS 102) and Sunset Yellow FCF (INS 110). Highly processed formulation (NOVA-4).
Who should avoid Orange Instant Drink Mix?
The points the analysis notes are most relevant to: Avoiding high added sugar; Children sensitive to artificial colours; Avoiding highly processed foods; Seeking full flavouring transparency.
Is Orange Instant Drink Mix suitable for babies or young children?
Infants under 1: Avoid. Toddlers & young children (1–5): Limit.
Is Orange Instant Drink Mix high in sugar?
Yes — 92.9 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 92.7 g of that as added sugar per 100 g.
Are the claims on the Orange Instant Drink Mix pack accurate?
Decode Label checked 5 claims against the ingredient list and nutrition panel. "MAKES 29 GLASSES" — can't be verified from the label. "REFRESHING & TASTY" — can't be verified from the label.
Is Orange Instant Drink Mix vegetarian?
Orange Instant Drink Mix is marked vegetarian.
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.
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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.
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