Tag: Medicinal sodas

Did you know that until 1948, the popular lemon-lime beverage, 7 Up, contained lithium citrate? The soft drink has a surprising medicinal past, having originally been marketed as a mood-stabilizing tonic and hangover cure, a practice that was common during the early days of soda production.

Before 1948, the popular lemon-lime soda 7UP contained a curious ingredient: lithium citrate. Originally called "Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda" upon its 1929 launch, it was advertised as a mood-boosting tonic. This unusual component was removed due to a 1948 ban by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that prohibited its use in soft drinks after reports of lithium toxicity and unregulated sales.