What Sodas Have Citrate: An In-Depth Look at Common Brands

November 1, 2025 •

4 min read

According to studies, many citrus-flavored and diet sodas, such as 7Up, Sprite, and Fresca, contain notable levels of citrate, while dark colas have very little or none. Understanding what sodas have citrate can help consumers make informed choices based on dietary preferences or health considerations, such as managing kidney stone risk.

Quick Summary

Citrate, typically added as citric acid or sodium citrate, is a common ingredient in many sodas, especially citrus-flavored and diet varieties, serving as a flavor enhancer, preservative, and pH buffer. Most traditional colas, however, contain little to no citrate.

Key Points

Citrus Sodas: Brands like 7Up, Sprite, Mountain Dew, Fresca, and Sunkist Orange are the most common sodas containing citrate.
Diet Sodas: Diet versions of citrus-flavored sodas, including Diet 7Up, Sprite Zero, and Diet Mountain Dew, also contain citrate.
Colas are Different: Dark colas like Coke and Pepsi typically contain phosphoric acid, not citric acid, and therefore have little to no citrate.
Citrate's Purpose: Citrate acts as a flavor enhancer, preservative, and pH buffer, creating a tart taste and extending shelf life.
Dental Health: The citric acid in sodas can contribute to dental enamel erosion, and health precautions should be taken when consuming these drinks.
Two Forms: Citrate is added either as citric acid for tartness or sodium citrate for buffering and flavor balance.

The Role of Citrate in Soda

Citrate is an ingredient commonly found in many carbonated beverages, primarily serving as an acidulant, flavor enhancer, and preservative. In sodas, it typically appears as either citric acid or sodium citrate. Citric acid is an organic weak acid that provides a tart, sour flavor, particularly in fruit-flavored drinks. Sodium citrate, the salt form of citric acid, functions primarily as a buffering agent to control the soda's acidity and balance the sweetness without adding an overly tart taste. This buffering capability also helps to stabilize the product's flavor over time and prolong its shelf life.

Why Do Manufacturers Use Citrate?

Flavor Enhancement: Citric acid accentuates fruity flavors and provides a sharp, refreshing taste in sodas like lemon-lime and orange. Sodium citrate modifies the sharpness of citric acid, creating a smoother, more balanced flavor profile.
Preservation: The low pH environment created by citric acid inhibits the growth of bacteria and microorganisms, which extends the product's shelf life.
pH Regulation: As a buffering agent, sodium citrate helps stabilize the beverage's pH level, which is critical for maintaining the flavor and stability of other ingredients like vitamins and antioxidants.
Chelating Agent: Citrate can chelate metal ions, which improves the function of antioxidants and prevents unwanted chemical reactions that can cause spoilage.

Sodas High in Citrate

Research has specifically identified several sodas that contain significant amounts of citrate, often in the form of citric acid or sodium citrate. The highest concentrations are generally found in citrus-flavored and diet sodas. Some of the most notable examples include:

7Up and Diet 7Up: Both versions are lemon-lime flavored and have been cited in studies for their citrate content.
Sprite and Sprite Zero: As another popular lemon-lime soda, Sprite is a known source of citric acid.
Mountain Dew and Diet Mountain Dew: These sodas contain citric acid, which contributes to their distinctive flavor.
Fresca: This grapefruit-flavored soda contains citrate and was included in studies comparing soda and lemonade citrate levels.
Sunkist Orange and Diet Sunkist Orange: Orange-flavored sodas naturally contain citric acid and often have it added as a preservative.
Crush Orange: Another prominent orange soda brand that lists citric acid as an ingredient.
Canada Dry Ginger Ale (Diet): Studies have found moderate citrate levels in diet versions of this drink.
Fanta Orange: Similar to other citrus sodas, Fanta contains citric acid to regulate flavor.

Colas and Citrate Content

In contrast to citrus-flavored soft drinks, most dark colas contain little to no citrate. The primary acidulant in these beverages is typically phosphoric acid, not citric acid. This difference accounts for the distinct flavor profiles; colas possess a sharper, less fruity acidity compared to the tartness of citrus sodas. This is an important distinction for individuals who might be monitoring their intake of different acids.

Citrate's Impact on Dental Health

While citrate serves many useful functions in sodas, it is important to consider its effect on dental health. The acidity of sodas, whether from citric or phosphoric acid, can contribute to dental erosion by wearing away tooth enamel. Citric acid is particularly known for its ability to chelate calcium, which can exacerbate the demineralization of tooth enamel. Although diet sodas may lack sugar, their high acid content remains a significant factor in dental damage. To minimize this risk, it is recommended to drink acidic beverages quickly, use a straw, and rinse the mouth with plain water afterward.

Comparison Table: Citrus vs. Cola Sodas


Feature	Citrus-Flavored Sodas (e.g., Sprite, 7Up)	Cola-Flavored Sodas (e.g., Coke, Pepsi)
Typical Citrate Level	Moderate to High	Little to None
Primary Acidulant	Citric Acid, often buffered with sodium citrate	Phosphoric Acid
Flavor Profile	Tart, zesty, often sweet	Sharper, less fruity, spiced
Dental Impact	High risk of enamel erosion due to citric acid	High risk of enamel erosion due to phosphoric acid
Buffering Agent	Sodium Citrate often used to balance tartness	Less reliance on buffering agents for pH control
Common Ingredients	Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, natural flavors, sodium citrate	Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, phosphoric acid, caramel color, natural flavors

Conclusion: Which Sodas Have Citrate?

In summary, citrate, in the form of citric acid and sodium citrate, is a very common additive in the beverage industry. It's a key ingredient for both flavor and preservation, especially in citrus-flavored and diet sodas like 7Up, Sprite, Mountain Dew, and Fresca. In contrast, dark colas like Coca-Cola and Pepsi predominantly use phosphoric acid and contain minimal to no citrate. For consumers concerned about dietary citrate or dental health, understanding these differences is crucial. Consulting a product's ingredient list is the most reliable way to confirm the presence of citrate. While certain sodas contain more citrate than others, it is advisable to consume all acidic beverages in moderation to protect dental enamel from erosion.

For more detailed information on citrate concentrations in various beverages, a study published in PubMed offers a quantitative assessment of citrate levels across different juices and sodas.

Note: Citrate is not the same as vitamin C (ascorbic acid), though both are naturally present in some fruits and used as preservatives.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult with a healthcare professional for dietary recommendations, especially regarding conditions like kidney stones.

Frequently Asked Questions

Citric acid is a weak organic acid that provides a sharp, sour taste and acts as a preservative. Sodium citrate is the salt of citric acid and functions as a buffering agent to control the soda's acidity and soften the flavor without adding tartness.

Citrate is added for several reasons: to enhance flavors, especially citrus and berry notes; to act as a preservative by lowering pH and inhibiting microbial growth; and to serve as a buffering agent to regulate acidity and stabilize the drink.

No. While most fruit-flavored and diet sodas contain citrate, dark colas typically do not. Colas use phosphoric acid as their primary acidulant.

While natural sources of citrate, like lemonade, are used to manage kidney stones, studies on the effectiveness of sodas are inconclusive. High-citrate sodas may have a small effect, but they also come with high sugar and acid content. Always consult a doctor for a personalized plan.

The primary risk comes from the acidity of the soda itself, which can cause dental enamel erosion over time, regardless of whether the acid is citric or phosphoric. Excessive consumption of high-sugar sodas also carries risks unrelated to citrate.

According to some studies, citrus-based juices and some diet citrus sodas like Diet 7Up and Fresca have relatively high citrate levels compared to colas. However, the levels can vary by brand and formulation.

No. Citrate is not the same as vitamin C, which is also known as ascorbic acid. While both are organic acids found naturally in fruits, they are distinct compounds used for different purposes in beverages.

The most reliable way is to read the ingredient list on the product's packaging. Look for 'citric acid' or 'sodium citrate' listed as ingredients.