SocraticGadfly: Jones Soda lost a customer

November 08, 2023

Jones Soda lost a customer

For me, there's no reason for sodium in soda, whether as salt or as sodium benzoate used as a preservative. Livestrong has more, starting with that it can be antifungal, and this may, theoretically, be of more benefit with a high-fructose corn syrup sweetener. 

Problem? All Jones Soda is cane-sugar based. Plus, HFCS users Coke and Pepsi don't use it.

That said, beyond not needing extra sodium, I'm not found of potassium benzoate as a substitute. Yes, some benzene occurs in some of our foods, but do we need to add to it?

And, if  Jones' orange soda has any Vitamin C from the orange (which it likely doesn't, not using actual juice AFAIK) then it can combine with sodium benzoate, or, I presume, potassium benzoate, to produce benzene. That FDA link says higher temperatures can accelerate this. And, I live in Tex-ass; Jones Soda being shipped in summer is certainly subject to higher temperatures.

Livestrong also notes that it's an "acidity gooser," so, bumping tartness and flavor. And, for Jones, which pushes itself as a "premium" brand, this itself should be seen as a bit of a marketing black eye, along with none of its fruit-flavored sodas having actual juice.

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