Nutrition Diet: What are the ingredients in ice strawberry starburst?

October 31, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a high percentage of the population regularly consumes sugary beverages, which are often high in calories and offer little nutritional value. The emergence of flavored, zero-sugar alternatives like Sparkling Ice's Starburst Strawberry begs the question: what are the ingredients in ice strawberry starburst flavored sparkling water, and how do they impact a nutrition diet?

Quick Summary

The Sparkling Ice Starburst Strawberry beverage features a base of carbonated water, natural flavors, and colors from vegetable juice. It uses the artificial sweetener sucralose to achieve a low-calorie, zero-sugar profile while being fortified with several B vitamins and vitamin E.

Key Points

Zero Sugar: Sparkling Ice Starburst Strawberry uses sucralose instead of sugar, resulting in 0g of sugar per serving.
Low Calorie: The beverage contains only 5 calories per bottle, offering a low-calorie alternative to sugary drinks.
Vitamins Added: It's fortified with B vitamins (B3, B5, B6, B12) and vitamin E for a slight nutritional benefit.
Natural Color Source: Fruit and vegetable juice are used for coloring, not artificial dyes.
Artificially Flavored: Natural flavors and artificial sweeteners provide the candy-like taste, not real fruit.
Contains Additives: Ingredients include preservatives like potassium benzoate and stabilizers.

Decoding the "Candy-Inspired" Drink

For many health-conscious consumers, finding a flavorful, low-calorie beverage can be a challenge. The Sparkling Ice collaboration with the Starburst candy brand offers a zero-sugar sparkling water that mimics the popular candy’s taste. Examining the ingredient list helps understand how this drink gets its flavor and nutritional profile. Unlike traditional sugary drinks, this beverage uses flavor enhancers and artificial sweeteners for taste without the high calories.

A Detailed Look at the Ingredients

Sparkling Ice Starburst Strawberry's ingredient list differs from both sugary sodas and plain water. The main ingredient is carbonated water. The drink also contains various additives, including flavorings, colorings, vitamins, sweeteners, and preservatives.

The Base: Carbonated Water

Carbonated water is water with added carbon dioxide gas, providing fizziness. It contains no calories or sugar and is good for hydration. Flavored sparkling water can encourage people who don't like plain water to drink more.

Flavor and Color Agents

Natural flavors provide the specific Starburst strawberry taste without adding sugar. The pink color comes from fruit and vegetable juice, offering a natural coloring source instead of synthetic dyes.

Artificial Sweeteners and Additives

Sucralose, a zero-calorie artificial sweetener, provides sweetness. It is much sweeter than sugar. While generally safe, some people prefer to avoid artificial sweeteners.

Other ingredients include citric acid for tartness and preservation, gum arabic and ester gum for stability, and calcium disodium EDTA and potassium benzoate as preservatives.

The Vitamin Boost

This drink is fortified with several vitamins, adding a small nutritional benefit. It contains Vitamin E, Niacinamide (B3), Calcium Pantothenate (B5), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (B6), Biotin, and Cyanocobalamin (B12). These vitamins support various bodily functions, including metabolism and energy production.

Nutritional Breakdown and Comparison

Comparing Sparkling Ice Starburst Strawberry to sugary soda and plain water highlights its nutritional profile.


Feature	Sparkling Ice Starburst Strawberry	Traditional Sugary Soda	Plain Water
Calories	5 calories per 17 fl oz bottle	~140 calories per 12 fl oz can	0 calories
Sugar	0g per serving	~39g per 12 fl oz can	0g
Artificial Sweeteners	Contains sucralose	Generally contains high-fructose corn syrup	None
Vitamins	Contains B vitamins and Vitamin E	None	None
Additives	Preservatives, color, stabilizers	Preservatives, artificial colors	None
Health Impact	Lower calorie, zero sugar alternative; relies on artificial sweeteners	High in sugar and calories; linked to health risks	Best for hydration; no added ingredients

How This Fits into a Nutrition Diet

Sparkling Ice Starburst Strawberry can be a zero-sugar option for those aiming to reduce sugar intake. The added vitamins offer a small advantage over some other diet drinks. However, it's not a substitute for water, which is essential for hydration. While it uses natural colors, the flavor is artificially created to resemble candy. Healthier choices include water infused with real fruits or herbs. This drink can be an occasional alternative to less healthy options, but moderation and awareness of the ingredients are key, especially regarding artificial sweeteners.

Conclusion: Making Informed Beverage Choices

Understanding what are the ingredients in ice strawberry starburst helps consumers make informed choices. This zero-sugar, low-calorie drink uses carbonated water, natural flavors and colors, and is fortified with vitamins. Sucralose provides the sweetness without sugar. While it can fit into a balanced diet in moderation, it shouldn't replace plain water or naturally flavored drinks. Considering ingredients and how they align with dietary goals is important. For those reducing soda consumption, it can be a transitional beverage. For optimal health and hydration, water is the best choice. Choosing healthier drinks can improve dietary patterns and long-term health. For more on healthy drinking, refer to resources like the Heart Foundation.

Frequently Asked Questions

It is a healthier alternative to sugary sodas due to zero sugar and low calories. However, it contains artificial sweeteners and preservatives, unlike water infused with real fruit.

Key ingredients include carbonated water, apple juice concentrate, fruit and vegetable juice for color, natural flavors, B vitamins, vitamin E, sucralose, citric acid, gum arabic, ester gum, and preservatives.

No, it is a zero-sugar drink that uses the artificial sweetener sucralose for sweetness.

Yes, fruit and vegetable juice are used for natural coloring.

Yes, it is suitable for a keto diet as it contains zero sugars and carbohydrates.

Sucralose provides sweetness without calories, aiding in sugar reduction. However, some people may be sensitive to it, and it doesn't offer the nutritional value of whole foods.

Read the ingredient label for zero added sugars and be mindful of artificial sweeteners or additives. Plain water or water infused with real fruit are generally the healthiest options.