Course:FNH200/Assignments/2025/PepsiCo Gatorade - Regular vs Zero Sugar

Introduction

Gatorade Cool Blue & Gatorade Cool Blue Zero

Gatorade Cool Blue is a sports drink designed to help athletes stay hydrated and replenish electrolytes lost during exercise. It contains water, electrolytes, and sugar for quick energy. Gatorade Zero Cool Blue offers the same hydration and electrolyte benefits but with zero sugar. Both are commonly used by athletes, gym-goers, and active individuals before, during, or after workouts.

Pictures

Gatorade Zero Cool Blue Ingredients & Nutrition List

Gatorade Cool Blue Ingredients & Nutrition List

Gatorade Zero Cool Blue

Gatorade Cool Blue

Ingredients

Cool Blue Regular	Cool Blue Zero
Water Sugars (sugar, Dextrose) Citric Acid Sodium Citrate Salt Monopotassium Phosphate Natural And Artificial Flavour Modified Corn Starch Ester Gum Sodium Benzoate Brilliant Blue FCF	Water Citric Acid Sodium Citrate Salt Monopotassium Phosphate Modified Corn Starch Sucralose Acesulfame Potassium Ester Gum Brilliant Blue FCF Natural Flavour

Substitutes & Additives Used

	Cool Blue Regular	Cool Blue Zero
Fat Substitutes	None	None
Sugar Substitutes	None	Sucralose Acesulfame Potassium
Additives	Citric Acid Sodium Citrate Monopotassium Phosphate Natural And Artificial Flavour Modified Corn Starch Ester Gum Sodium Benzoate Brilliant Blue FCF	Citric Acid Sodium Citrate Monopotassium Phosphate Modified Corn Starch Ester Gum Brilliant Blue FCF Natural Flavour

Roles of Substitutes and Additives

Cool Blue Regular

Fat Substitutes: none

Sugar Substitutes: none

Additives:

• Citric acid: originally derived from citrus fruits such as lemons and oranges, it gives an acidic, sour flavor and acts as a preservative by preserving ingredients inhibiting the growth of bacteria.

• Sodium citrate: to regulate acidity and assist in the balance of flavour. It works in tandem with citric acid to maintain the desired tartness and improve taste consistency.

• Monopotassium phosphate: maintains a stable pH and contributes to electrolyte supplementation. It is often used in sports drinks to support muscle function and hydration.

• Modified corn starch: gives the drink a thick fluid and enhances texture. This ingredient also helps prevent ingredients from separating during storage.

• Ester gum: also referred to as "glycerol ester of wood rosin", it assists in the uniformity of ingredients so that they are mixed over each other and stabilizes the oil-based flavorings in the drink, preventing them from floating to the top.

• Brilliant Blue FCF: also referred to as "Blue 1 Dye", it is a synthetic dye that gives Gatorade its distinct blue colour, making the beverage more visually appealing and recognizable to consumers.

• Natural and artificial flavour: enhances the flavour of Gatorade by strengthening its taste and providing a refreshing aroma.

• Sodium benzoate: prevents spoilage and increases shelf life. It is especially effective in acidic environments, helping preserve the drink’s freshness over time.

Cool Blue Zero

Fat Substitutes: none

Sugar Substitutes:

• Sucralose: zero-calorie artificial sweetener, roughly 600x sweeter than sugar without increasing blood sugar or insulin levels.

• Acesulfame potassium: another artificial sweetener that is 200x sweeter than sugar, and commonly used alongside sucralose to mask its bitter aftertaste.

Additives: (same as Cool Blue Regular except for the removal of sodium benzoate)

• Citric acid: originally derived from citrus fruits such as lemons and oranges, it gives an acidic, sour flavor and acts as a preservative by preserving ingredients inhibiting the growth of bacteria.

• Sodium citrate: to regulate acidity and assist in the balance of flavour. It works in tandem with citric acid to maintain the desired tartness and improve taste consistency.

• Monopotassium phosphate: maintains a stable pH and contributes to electrolyte supplementation. It is often used in sports drinks to support muscle function and hydration.

• Modified corn starch: gives the drink a thick fluid and enhances texture. This ingredient also helps prevent ingredients from separating during storage.

• Ester gum: also referred to as "glycerol ester of wood rosin", it assists in the uniformity of ingredients so that they are mixed over each other and stabilizes the oil-based flavorings in the drink, preventing them from floating to the top.

• Brilliant Blue FCF: also referred to as "Blue 1 Dye", it is a synthetic dye that gives Gatorade its distinct blue colour, making the beverage more visually appealing and recognizable to consumers.

• Natural and artificial flavour: enhances the flavour of Gatorade by strengthening its taste and providing a refreshing aroma.

Compare and Contrast

Similarity: citric acid, sodium citrate, monopotassium phosphate, modified corn starch, ester gum, brilliant blue FCF, natural flavor.

Difference: Regular Cool Blue contains sugar as its main sweetener, which gives it calories and quick energy during intense activity. In contrast, Gatorade Zero uses sucralose and acesulfame potassium instead of sugar, making it a low-calorie, sugar-free option. Regular Gatorade also includes artificial flavour and a preservative called sodium benzoate, which helps extend shelf life. On the other hand, Gatorade Zero lists only natural flavour and does not include sodium benzoate. This is because the zero version does not contain sugar; hence too no risk of bacterial growth. Both drinks share the same color, texture, and base ingredients, but they are designed for different needs.

Labels

Labelling Requirement	Cool Blue Regular and Cool Blue Zero
Common name	Gatorade and Gatorade Zero.
Bilingualism	Language is in both English and French, the Official languages of Canada.
Country of Origin	Not required for this kind of food product, therefore not on the label.
Date Markings and Storage Instructions	Products have a storage life greater than 90 days, and therefore do not require a date marking. It is generally recommended to refrigerate after opening, however, to prevent it from going bad.
Name and Principal Place of Business	Produced by PepsiCo Canada ULC, Mississauga, Ontario L4W OG2.
Irradiation	Gatorade is not irradiated; therefore, it is not on the label.
Legibility and Location	The information is clearly legible with bold and black text located on the side of the bottle
List of Ingredients and Allergens	Presented in the ingredient list section above. No allergens present.
Net quantity	710 mL present for both the regular and zero sugar versions..
Sweeteners	Presented in the list of ingredients above.
Nutrition Labelling	Presented in the list of ingredients above and contains the required information including fats, carbohydrates, protein, sodium, and potassium. Also contains % daily value alongside clarification that 5% or less is “a little” and 15% or more is “a lot”.
Claims and Statements	Not a significant source of saturated fat, trans fat, fibre, cholesterol, calcium, or iron. Also contains a disclaimer which clarifies that the purpose of the drink is to “help maintain normal water and electrolyte balance”, while also clarifying that “carbohydrates provide energy”.

According to the requirements outlined in Lesson 04, the information provided on both bottles of Gatorade Blue and Gatorade Zero has met the mandatory guidelines. The required regulatory requirements include: bilingual labelling, common name of the food, country of origin, date marking & storage instructions, identity & principal place of business, irradiated foods, legibility and location, list of ingredients in descending order, nutrition facts table, net quantity of the food, and sweeteners. For both Gatorade bottles, irradiated does not apply. Voluntary requirement for country of origin, which showcases the product as US or CAD is only mandatory for specified items such as raw poultry, alcohol, dairy blends, etc. The label does have storage instructions of "refrigerate after opening,” but as Gatorade has a shelf/storage life of over 90 days, the date marking is not mandatory.

References

This Food Science resource was created by Course:FNH200.