Is root beer a soda, and how is it different from other sodas?
Yes, root beer is a soda: USDA lists it under carbonated beverages. A 12 oz serving has about 152 calories, 39 g of sugar and no caffeine (our calculation), while the same amount of regular cola has about 33 mg of caffeine. Root beer was traditionally flavored with sassafras, which FDA bans in food unless safrole-free.
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In this article
Is root beer a soda?
Yes. USDA FoodData Central lists ‘Beverages, carbonated, root beer’ in the same group as cola, ginger ale and club soda. So USDA treats it as a carbonated soft drink, like the others in that group.
How does root beer compare with cola?
| 12 oz (our calculation from USDA per 100 g) | Calories | Sugar | Sodium | Caffeine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Root beer (370 g) | 152 | 39 g | 48 mg | 0 mg |
| Regular cola (370 g) | 155 | 37 g | 11 mg | 33 mg |
The big difference in these entries is caffeine: USDA lists 0 mg for root beer and 9 mg per 100 g for cola. Brands vary, so check the label.
What gives root beer its flavor?
The traditional flavor is sassafras root. Under 21 CFR 189.180, FDA prohibits food that contains added safrole or oil of sassafras, a natural part of the sassafras plant. Under 21 CFR 172.580, a safrole-free extract of sassafras root bark is allowed as a flavoring. So a root beer sold in the US today cannot use ordinary sassafras oil.
We found no official page that lists the flavorings in typical root beer today, or that explains a licorice-like taste, so we do not name them. Read the ingredient list on the can.
Is root beer healthier than other sodas?
Not by these numbers: the sugar is similar to cola. The NHS advises adults to have no more than 30 g of free sugars a day, and one 12 oz can of root beer is about 39 g by our calculation.
People also ask
Is root beer considered a soda?
Yes. USDA lists root beer among carbonated beverages with cola, ginger ale and club soda.
Does root beer have caffeine?
USDA lists 0 mg of caffeine for root beer, while regular cola has 9 mg per 100 g. Brands vary, so read the label.
Is sassafras still used in root beer?
FDA prohibits added safrole or oil of sassafras in food, but allows a safrole-free sassafras extract as a flavoring.
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