Sprite vs 7UP: Sugar (38 g each), Sodium, Ingredients Compared

In short: The classic Sprite and 7UP cans in 12 fl oz size are nearly identical on calories and sugar, and they differ mainly on sodium, total carbohydrates, and preservatives. The zero-sugar versions differ on sodium, potassium, and preservatives. Which difference matters more depends on which label details you care about.

Sprite and 7UP in 12 fl oz cans are nearly identical on the numbers most shoppers check first: both list 140 calories and 38 g of added sugar. The label differences sit mainly in sodium (65 mg in Sprite, 40 mg in 7UP), total carbohydrates (38 g vs 39 g), and preservatives. This page sets the labels side by side and leaves the reading to you.

Key takeaways

• Both classic cans list 140 calories, 38 g total sugars, and 38 g added sugars per 12 fl oz can.
• Sprite lists 65 mg sodium and 38 g total carbohydrates; 7UP lists 40 mg sodium and 39 g total carbohydrates.
• Both classic cans are labeled caffeine-free and list high fructose corn syrup. Sprite lists sodium benzoate; 7UP lists potassium citrate and calcium disodium EDTA, with no benzoate.
• Both zero-sugar versions list 0 calories and 0 g sugar. Sprite Zero Sugar lists 35 mg sodium and 110 mg potassium; 7UP Zero Sugar lists 45 mg sodium and 95 mg potassium.

Sprite vs 7UP: Which Lemon-Lime Can Has More Sugar and Calories?

Neither: Sprite and 7UP each list 38 g of added sugar and 140 calories per 12 fl oz can. Both labels also list 38 g of total sugars and print the added sugar as 76% of the Daily Value.

Label item (12 fl oz can)	Sprite	7UP Lime-Lemon Flavored Soda
Calories	140	140
Total fat	0 g	0 g
Sodium	65 mg (3%)	40 mg (2%)
Total carbohydrates	38 g (14%)	39 g (14%)
Total sugars	38 g	38 g
Added sugars	38 g (76%)	38 g (76%)
Protein	0 g	0 g
Potassium	Not disclosed for the full-sugar can	55 mg (2%)
Caffeine label	Caffeine-free ('NO CAFFEINE')	Caffeine Free
Sweetener	High fructose corn syrup	High fructose corn syrup
Preservative named on list	Sodium benzoate	None named (calcium disodium EDTA and potassium citrate listed)

The added sugar figure is easy to check against federal guidance. The FDA says the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend limiting calories from added sugars to less than 10 percent of total calories per day. For a 2,000 calorie diet, that is 50 grams of added sugars per day (FDA: Added Sugars on the Nutrition Facts Label), so one 38 g can equals 76% of that reference amount.

The one-gram carbohydrate gap is not explained by sugar, because both labels list 38 g of total sugars. The labels do not break down the extra gram of carbohydrates in 7UP.

What the Labels and Regulators Say About Sprite vs 7UP

Labels cannot establish whether either drink is safe for a particular person. What they can show is how each product compares on regulated figures such as sugar, sodium, caffeine, and additives, and what regulators have said about those ingredients.

For sugar, the FDA's added sugar guidance is the most direct reference point on these labels.

The additives are covered by specific federal rules. Calcium disodium EDTA, listed by 7UP, is permitted under 21 CFR 172.120 in canned carbonated soft drinks at not to exceed 33 parts per million, with the stated use to promote flavor retention (21 CFR 172.120). Sodium benzoate, listed by Sprite, is covered by 21 CFR 184.1733, which states that current usage results in a maximum level of 0.1 percent in food. Neither brand discloses how much of either additive a single can contains.

Label details can change, so the can in your hand is the reference point.

What Is in Sprite vs 7UP? Full Ingredient Lists Side by Side

The lists below summarize the ingredients named for each classic can, with capitalization adjusted for readability. Ingredient wording can differ between listings and over time, so the can in hand is the final reference.

• Sprite: carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, natural flavors, sodium citrate, sodium benzoate (to protect taste).
• 7UP Lime-Lemon: filtered carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, potassium citrate, natural flavors, calcium disodium EDTA (to protect flavor).

Three differences stand out. The 7UP listing specifies filtered carbonated water, while the Sprite listing does not. Sprite lists sodium citrate, and 7UP lists potassium citrate. Sprite lists sodium benzoate, and 7UP lists calcium disodium EDTA instead.

Neither brand discloses what its natural flavors are, including whether they come from lemon or lime. The Coca-Cola brand page describes Sprite as 'caffeine free with 100% natural flavors' (Sprite product information), but that page does not disclose the composition of those flavors. The type of high fructose corn syrup (42 or 55) is not stated on either label. For a comparison of how dyes appear in another lemon-lime and orange pairing, see Fanta Orange vs Sprite: Why One Has Dyes and One Doesn't.

Which Preservatives Does Sprite vs 7UP Use, and Why Are They on the Label?

Sprite lists sodium benzoate, which its label says is included to protect taste. 7UP's list does not name benzoate. Instead, 7UP lists calcium disodium EDTA, which its label says is included to protect flavor. 7UP also lists potassium citrate, but the KDP listing does not state what potassium citrate is doing in the drink.

The federal rule for sodium benzoate sets a maximum level of 0.1 percent in food under current usage. The rule for calcium disodium EDTA in canned carbonated soft drinks sets a ceiling of 33 parts per million. Neither rule tells a shopper how much of either additive is in one 12 fl oz can, and neither brand discloses that figure.

The zero-sugar versions use a different preservative pattern. Both list potassium benzoate, with Sprite Zero Sugar labeling it 'to protect taste' and 7UP Zero Sugar labeling it as a preservative. 7UP Zero Sugar also lists calcium disodium EDTA. The sodium benzoate limit in 21 CFR 184.1733 is written for sodium benzoate, and it is not stated for potassium benzoate, so that limit should not be read as applying to potassium benzoate.

How Much Sodium Is in Sprite vs 7UP (12 fl oz Can)?

Sprite lists 65 mg of sodium per 12 fl oz can (3% Daily Value), and 7UP lists 40 mg (2%). That is a difference of 25 mg on the labels for the same can size. For a full read of the Sprite can, see Is Sprite Clean? Every Ingredient in the Can, Scanned.

The zero-sugar pair reverses the comparison in a small way. Sprite Zero Sugar lists 35 mg of sodium per 12 fl oz can, and 7UP Zero Sugar lists 45 mg.

Sodium numbers depend on package size, so check the panel on the can you are holding:

• Confirm the serving size is 12 fl oz before comparing milligrams.
• Compare the mg figure and the %DV together.
• Note that Sprite's brand page lists sizes from 7.5 fl oz cans to 3 L bottles, so the same drink can show different totals per container.

Is Sprite vs 7UP Caffeine-Free? Label Claims and Regulatory Context

Both classic cans are labeled caffeine-free. Sprite's label reads 'NO CAFFEINE,' and the Coca-Cola brand page describes the product as 'caffeine free with 100% natural flavors.' 7UP lists 'Caffeine Free' as a product highlight on its product facts page (7UP Lime-Lemon product facts).

The two classic cans also share the same sweetener. Both are sweetened with high fructose corn syrup. The FDA has stated that the proportion of fructose to glucose in HFCS 42 and HFCS 55 is similar to that of sucrose, and it says it is not aware of evidence of a safety difference between foods containing HFCS and foods with similar amounts of other nutritive sweeteners (FDA: High Fructose Corn Syrup Questions and Answers). The labels here do not say which HFCS type is used.

What Are the Differences Between Sprite Zero Sugar and 7UP Zero Sugar?

Both zero-sugar cans list 0 calories and 0 g total sugars per 12 fl oz can, and both are labeled caffeine-free. 7UP Zero Sugar also carries a 'No Calorie' highlight.

The main numeric differences are sodium and potassium. Sprite Zero Sugar lists 35 mg sodium and 110 mg potassium. 7UP Zero Sugar lists 45 mg sodium and 95 mg potassium.

The ingredient lists also differ. Sprite Zero Sugar lists carbonated water, citric acid, potassium citrate, natural flavors, potassium benzoate (to protect taste), aspartame, and acesulfame potassium. 7UP Zero Sugar lists filtered carbonated water, citric acid, potassium citrate, potassium benzoate (preservative), aspartame, acesulfame potassium, natural flavors, and calcium disodium EDTA (to protect flavor) (7UP Zero Sugar product facts). For a parallel look at how aspartame appears on another diet soda label, see Fresca vs Diet Coke: Does Fresca Have Aspartame? Labels Compared.

What sweetener is in Sprite Zero and 7UP Zero Sugar?

Both zero-sugar versions list aspartame and acesulfame potassium on their ingredient lists. The FDA states that aspartame is approved for use in food as a sweetener and is about 200 times sweeter than table sugar. Its acceptable daily intake is 50 mg per kilogram of body weight per day. In July 2023 the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified aspartame as possibly carcinogenic; the FDA says it disagrees with IARC's conclusion and that FDA scientists do not have safety concerns when aspartame is used under the approved conditions (FDA: Aspartame and Other Sweeteners in Food). Milligram amounts of aspartame or acesulfame potassium per can are not disclosed.

The Sprite Zero Sugar ingredient listing on the Coca-Cola brand page does not include sucralose.

What Does the Phenylalanine Statement on Sprite Zero and 7UP Zero Sugar Mean?

Aspartame labels carry a specific warning. The FDA says people with the rare genetic disorder phenylketonuria (PKU) should avoid or restrict aspartame, and that labels must include a statement that the product contains phenylalanine. The Sprite Zero Sugar label reads 'PHENYLKETONURICS: CONTAINS PHENYLALANINE.' This page does not confirm that statement on the 7UP Zero Sugar listing, so check that can directly.

For people who limit sweeteners for other reasons, the practical step is to read the sweetener line on the can. This page cannot advise on individual intake or on what any particular person should consume.

How Can Shoppers Spot the Differences on Sprite and 7UP Can Labels?

Start with the Nutrition Facts panel, then the ingredient list, then the small print. The differences between these two classic cans are in sodium, carbohydrates, and preservatives rather than calories or sugar.

• Compare calories and added sugars per 12 fl oz can, and confirm the serving size.
• Compare sodium in mg and %DV side by side.
• Read the ingredient list in order, and look for sodium benzoate (Sprite), calcium disodium EDTA (7UP), and potassium benzoate (both zero-sugar versions).
• Look for the phenylalanine statement on any aspartame product.
• Note whether the can says caffeine-free or no caffeine.
• Confirm package size, since Sprite alone is sold in sizes from 7.5 fl oz to 3 L.

KDP also lists a 7UP Lemon-Lime Flavored Soda made with real sugar and a version made in Mexico, both at 140 calories. Those are not the flagship can compared here, so check the specific can. Label details can change, and this page cannot confirm the current formula of every product sold.

If you want to see how a label reads when it is scanned, you can try the Aurascan sample result. Aurascan pulls product data from Open Food Facts, USDA, and barcode databases, explains each ingredient one at a time with cited evidence, and has no sponsors. Scan the product yourself to see its ingredients and sources for yourself.