A Glimpse into the Patent Medicine Era
To understand why 7UP initially contained lithium, one must appreciate the context of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This period, known as the patent medicine era, saw many pharmacists and chemists creating beverages with supposed medicinal properties. Like Coca-Cola's early use of coca leaf extract, 7UP's inclusion of lithium was a product of its time, reflecting a widespread belief that carbonated tonics could cure various ailments.
Charles Leiper Grigg, the soda's inventor, marketed his creation, initially named "Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda," as a mood-enhancing drink. It was believed to combat hangovers, anxiety, and depression, capitalizing on the public's fascination with wellness tonics. The "lithiated" portion of the name was a direct reference to the lithium citrate, a salt known even then for its mood-stabilizing effects, although its use was poorly understood and unregulated.
The Rise of Medical Scrutiny and Regulation
As scientific understanding of substances like lithium advanced, the lax regulation of the patent medicine era came to an end. The FDA was established in 1906, and by the mid-20th century, its authority had expanded to prohibit the use of certain chemicals in consumer products without strict oversight. This increased scrutiny directly impacted products like 7UP that had previously used questionable medical claims to attract customers.
The final nail in the coffin came from an unrelated incident involving lithium chloride. In the late 1940s, this chemical was improperly marketed and sold as a salt substitute for people with heart conditions. A number of deaths from lithium poisoning were reported, creating a public health crisis that prompted the FDA to take swift and definitive action. In 1948, the FDA officially banned the use of lithium salts in all soft drinks and beer, forcing 7UP to remove the ingredient from its formula.
The Health Risks of Unregulated Lithium Use
While trace amounts of lithium naturally occur in some foods and water, unregulated doses can be dangerous. The doses found in 7UP were likely small, but the risk lay in the lack of control and public understanding. Without professional medical guidance, consumers could easily over-consume lithium, with potentially toxic consequences.
Lithium Toxicity vs. Trace Element Benefits
| Aspect | Clinical Lithium Use | Unregulated Dietary Intake |
|---|---|---|
| Dosage Control | Carefully monitored and adjusted by medical professionals to stay within a narrow therapeutic range. | Inconsistent and potentially excessive, leading to dangerous serum levels. |
| Medical Context | Prescribed primarily for bipolar disorder, under strict medical supervision. | Marketed for general anxiety or hangovers with no diagnostic or professional oversight. |
| Risk of Toxicity | Still possible, but managed and minimized through blood level testing. | Substantial risk of adverse effects, including tremors, nausea, kidney damage, and even death. |
| Public Health Impact | Used to effectively treat serious mental health conditions in controlled settings. | Caused a public health concern that directly led to regulatory action against commercial food products. |
The 1948 ban served to protect the public from the very real and severe risks of lithium toxicity, which can affect the kidneys, nervous system, and heart. While lithium remains a crucial medication in psychiatry, its place is firmly in controlled medicine, not unregulated soft drinks.
Life After Lithium: Reformulation and Rebranding
Following the FDA ban, 7UP permanently removed lithium citrate. However, the soda's popularity was already established, and it successfully continued as a beloved lemon-lime beverage without its medicinal claims. The name was officially shortened to 7UP in 1936, years before the ban, demonstrating the brand's pivot from a medicinal tonic to a refreshing soft drink.
The End of an Era
The 1948 ban effectively ended the era of patent medicine-infused soft drinks, a legacy that also includes the removal of cocaine from Coca-Cola's formula. These regulatory milestones shifted the beverage industry from marketing questionable health benefits to focusing on taste and refreshment. Today, 7UP is recognized for its crisp, clean, caffeine-free flavor, a stark contrast to its original, medically-marketed formula. Its evolution from a controversial tonic to a modern soda classic is a testament to changing public health standards and the lasting impact of FDA regulations. It’s a fascinating piece of history and an important lesson in the evolution of consumer products.
Conclusion
In summary, the original 7UP contained lithium citrate, marketed as a mood-boosting patent medicine in the early 20th century. The practice ceased in 1948, not because of issues with the soda specifically, but because the FDA outlawed the use of lithium salts in beverages following several reported poisonings involving lithium chloride used as an unregulated salt substitute. This pivotal moment in food and drug regulation ensured lithium's proper use in medicine and transformed 7UP into the modern, non-medicinal beverage it is today.
Why did they stop putting lithium in 7UP?
- FDA Ban: The primary reason was a 1948 ban by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the use of lithium in soft drinks and beer.
- Toxicity Concerns: The ban was triggered by reported poisonings and deaths linked to the unregulated consumption of lithium, particularly a product being sold as a salt substitute.
- End of Patent Medicine Era: The removal was part of a larger shift away from the early 20th-century practice of marketing sodas with dubious health claims.
- Rebranding: 7UP's manufacturer had already begun moving away from the medicinal angle, having shortened the name from "Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda" to simply 7UP in 1936.
- Modern Understanding: With advanced medical knowledge, it became clear that lithium was a powerful drug requiring careful clinical supervision, not a casual beverage ingredient.
FAQs
Question: When did 7UP stop including lithium? Answer: 7UP stopped including lithium citrate in its formula in 1948, the same year the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officially banned lithium salts from being used in soft drinks.
Question: What was the original name of 7UP? Answer: When it was first introduced in 1929, the soda's original name was the cumbersome "Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda," a direct reference to the lithium citrate it contained.
Question: Why was lithium added to 7UP in the first place? Answer: Lithium was added because it was a popular ingredient in patent medicines of the era, believed to have a mood-boosting effect that could help with hangovers, anxiety, and depression.
Question: Is lithium in 7UP why the name includes "Up"? Answer: One theory for the name's origin is that the "Up" refers to the mood-boosting effect of the lithium, though this has never been definitively confirmed by the company.
Question: What happened to the taste of 7UP after the lithium was removed? Answer: With the lithium removed, 7UP remained a popular beverage because consumers had grown to love its clean, lemon-lime flavor, demonstrating that the medicinal claims were not central to its long-term success.
Question: How dangerous was the amount of lithium in early 7UP? Answer: While the amount of lithium in 7UP was relatively small, the danger lay in unregulated consumption. The lack of controlled dosage could lead to toxicity, especially with frequent use or in sensitive individuals, which prompted the FDA's ban.
Question: Is lithium still used medically today? Answer: Yes, lithium is still a critically important psychiatric medication used to treat conditions like bipolar disorder, though it is administered in carefully controlled doses under a doctor's supervision.
