The Core Ingredients: A Lemonade Base
All versions of the Fruit Splash feature a lemonade concentrate as their base, which is then combined with a specific flavor syrup. This concentrate provides the fundamental tangy taste and contains water, sugar, lemon juice concentrate, lemon pulp, orange juice concentrate, natural flavor, citric acid, and salt.
Flavor-Specific Syrups
Each Fruit Splash flavor is distinguished by its unique syrup, mixed with the lemonade base. Popular Canadian flavors included Tropical and Watermelon Lime, which used distinct syrups.
Tropical Fruit Splash
The Tropical Fruit Flavoured Syrup includes sugars (from sugar, pineapple, and carrot juice concentrates), water, natural flavors designed to evoke pineapple, passion fruit, and coconut, citric acid, preservatives (potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate), and stabilizers like xanthan gum. It also contains ascorbic acid, soybean oil, silicon dioxide, carnauba wax, and tocopherols. You can find the full list of ingredients for the Tropical Fruit Splash in Canada on the official McDonald's Canada website.
Watermelon Lime Fruit Splash
This flavor's syrup contains sugars (from sugar, carrot, apple, and sweet potato concentrates), water, lime juice concentrate for zest, natural watermelon flavors, citric acid, and preservatives (potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate). Xanthan gum is used for consistency, and it also includes soybean oil, silicon dioxide, carnauba wax, and tocopherols.
Other Variations
Other flavors like Strawberry Passionfruit and Peach Mango were also available initially.
Nutritional Profile of Fruit Splash
The nutritional values vary by flavor and size. A medium Tropical Fruit Splash has around 160 calories and 37g of sugar, while a medium Watermelon Lime has similar values. The sugar primarily comes from the concentrates and syrups. These drinks are low in fat, fiber, and protein.
Availability: A Limited-Time Canadian Offer
The Fruit Splash was offered for a limited time in Canada starting in 2023 and may not be consistently available. It's recommended to check your local McDonald's menu for current availability.
Ingredient Comparison: Fruit Splash vs. Other Drinks
Comparing Fruit Splash to other McDonald's beverages, like the US Minute Maid Fruit Punch, highlights formulation differences.
| Feature | Fruit Splash (e.g., Tropical) | Minute Maid Fruit Punch (US) |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Primarily Canadian, formerly a limited-time offer | Widely available, often as a permanent menu item |
| Flavoring | Lemonade base plus specific flavored syrup | Water base with a blend of fruit juices from concentrate (pear, pineapple, orange) |
| Sweeteners | Primarily sugar and fruit juice concentrates | High Fructose Corn Syrup and sugar |
| Key Fruit Profile | Focuses on lemon, with a secondary flavor (e.g., pineapple, passion fruit) | A multi-fruit blend of pear, pineapple, orange, and passionfruit |
| Pulp Content | Includes real lemon pulp in the lemonade base | No specified pulp content |
Conclusion
McDonald's Fruit Splash beverages are made with a lemonade concentrate base and flavor-specific syrups, using fruit juice concentrates, sugars, natural flavors, and additives. Originally a limited-time item in Canada, flavors like Tropical and Watermelon Lime each have unique syrup ingredient lists. Customers interested in current ingredients or availability should check their local McDonald's resources.
