You would find very few Americans who do not love orange soda, and orange crush is a classic brand. The nostalgic tangy and fizzy tastes make you keep coming back for more. However, knowing about the beverage you consume is important to determine how much consumption is safe.
Crush soda is totally caffeine free, the caffeine content in Orange Crush is 0 mg per 20.00 fl. oz bottle. Compared to other drinks, Orange Crush is a caffeine-free option for you to enjoy. However, just because it is caffeine free, does not mean it cannot be harmful to you. It still needs to be consumed in moderate amounts.
Keep reading for more information.
Origins Of Orange Crush
Crush is a brand of carbonated soft drinks owned and marketed internationally by Keurig Dr. Pepper. It was created as an orange soda, Orange Crush.
J.M. Thompson of Chicago invented the “first orange soda,” Orange Crush, in 1906; but the commercial formula wouldn’t take off until 1911 when California-born beverage chemist Neil C. Ward improved the blending technique. This innovation was responsible for bringing the “zesty, all-natural orange flavor” of Orange Crush to the people.
The Orange Crush Company was launched in 1916 by Neil C. Ward., soon after refining the original formula.
Why Is The Soda Called “Crush”?
After the recipe for the soda was developed, the crush part referred to extracting the oil from orange peels to add flavor to the drink. Orange pulp and juice are also introduced into it and squeezed into the beverage. The entire process in this way led to the name of the soda being orange crush.
What Countries Are Crush Soda Sold In?
Crush is available in Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Guatemala, Lebanon, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Syria, Uruguay, and, at one point, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Bolivia. Crush has been marketed in Chile by Compaa de Cerveceras Unidas since the 1940s.
The Coca-Cola Company distributes the Crush brand in various Latin American nations, using the same colors and bottles as Fanta.
What Other Flavors Is Crush Soda Available In?
Keurig Dr. Pepper of Plano, Texas owns the Crush brand and trademark. Crush is also popular in Canada, where it is marketed by the Canada Dry Motts division. It is sold by several Pepsi bottlers, the largest of which is the Pepsi Bottling Group Canada.
Other than orange, there is grape, and cream soda flavors that are widely available. Other varieties are harder to come by. However, there are Crush Strawberry, Crush Lime, and Crush Pineapple which are available on occasion in the northern US. Additional flavors available include peach, chocolate, lemon, cherry, apple, and even birch beer for our Canadian friends.
Crush (especially Orange Crush) can be found in the form of jellybeans, frozen drinks, candies, freeze Letpops, t-shirts, and a variety of other products alongside other Dr. Pepper brands.
Is Orange Crush Soda Healthy?
It might taste nostalgic and have fruit in its name but, orange crush soda is not a healthy drink. There are no vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, or probiotics in Orange Crush. Aside from the high sugar content (equal to slightly more than 5 scoops of ice cream), Orange Crush doesn’t give much more than a burst of artificial coloring and carbonated water.
Fanta Vs Orange Crush
Both drinks are bright orange, but Fanta and Crush are not the same. They are made and distributed by two different manufacturers. Both drinks are non-caffeinated.
They are also different in taste as Fanta has a notably strong orange-flavored taste. The taste is similar to orange candy. The drink has a noticeable fizz. Orange Crush is much sweeter than Fanta though.
Ingredients Of Orange Crush Soda
Like many carbonated drinks, orange crush has many artificial ingredients that give it its bright color and tangy sweet taste.
The ingredients list includes; Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (preservative), Natural Flavors, Modified Corn Starch, Ester Gum, Yellow 6, Salt, and Red 40.
Let us discuss the health consequences of a few of these ingredients
Artificial Dyes
It is not the presence of actual orange juice that gives orange crush its signature color, but the soda adds additives such as Red 40 and Yellow 6 – both artificial colorings that make this drink orange.
The dyes have been linked to health problems and are banned in some countries. Research has also associated these food dyes with problems in children including allergies, hyperactivity, learning impairment, irritability, and aggressiveness
High Fructose Corn Syrup
Soda is expected to be sweet but consuming too much high fructose corn syrup as a sweetener can put a person at increased risk for outcomes like obesity and type 2 diabetes.
It can contribute unwanted calories that are linked to health problems, such as weight gain, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and high triglyceride levels. All of these boost your risk of heart disease.
Sodium Benzoate (preservative)
If consumed in moderation, sodium benzoate is deemed safe for human health. The adverse effects of food preservatives are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rhinitis, bronchospasm, migraine, anaphylaxis, and hyperactivity in children.
Carbonated Water
True, not all carbonated beverages are harmful to our health. When carbonated water is mixed with sugar, however, severe tooth decay can ensue.
This bubbly drink’s bubbles can cause burping, bloating, and other gas symptoms. Some sparkling water brands may also contain artificial sweeteners such as sucralose, which can induce diarrhea and possibly change the microbiome in your gut.
Orange Crush has 71 grams of sugar added. Combining this with carbonated water is a recipe for poor physical and dental hygiene.
Conclusion
Orange crush is a popular orange soda brand with no caffeine in it. It is tangy, fizzy, and sweet, and is also the oldest orange soda brand. It is a great option if you are looking for caffeine-free soda but keep in mind that it has a high amount of sugar and other additives in it that could potentially harm your health.
