New version of the guidelines for soft drinks

Overview of the changes:

Updating the general quality characteristics

The maximum alcohol content of 2 g/l must not be exceeded, even if fermented ingredients are deliberately added to the soft drink.

Description and presentation

• The text of the chapter has been restructured and further subdivisions have been added.
• The designation "soft drink" is supplemented by the flavour or the designation listed in section 2 is used.
• Added carbon dioxide is also referred to as carbonic acid.
• There is a reference to "iced tea" as a soft drink to distinguish it from iced tea as a tea drink.

Special assessment characteristics for fruit juice drinks

• Fruit juice drinks may contain:
  - natural fruit flavour,
  - natural fruit flavour with other natural flavourings, or
  - NEW: natural flavouring.
• If a fruit juice drink contains more than two types of fruit, it can be described as a multi-fruit juice drink.
• The total fruit content may also be indicated in the main visual field (QUID also applies).

Special assessment criteria: Fruit spritzers

• Like fruit juice drinks, fruit spritzers may be flavoured with:
  - natural fruit flavour,
  - natural fruit flavour with other natural flavourings, or
  - NEW: natural flavoring.
  Exception: apple spritzer. This may only be flavoured with natural apple flavouring and/or natural apple flavouring with other natural flavourings.
• The total fruit content can also be stated in the main visual field (QUID also applies). This is already standard practice for apple spritzer.

Special assessment criteria for lemonades

• The definition of added flavourings has been expanded.
• Ingredients to achieve a sweet taste have been added.
• Citric acid is listed separately as a possible ingredient.
• The minimum total sugar content of 7% has been removed. The guidelines now state how the sugar content in the product is achieved (fruit components and added sugar).
• The total fruit content can also be stated in the main visual field (QUID also applies).

Special assessment characteristics for Brausen (fizzy drink with artificial or nature-identical flavourings and colourings)

• Addition to the characteristics of "Fassbrause".

The full document is available in German from the German Food Codex Commission (DLMBK).