/ / A&W Diet Root Beer 12pk 12oz Can

A&W Diet Root Beer 12pk 12oz Can

Contains artificial sweeteners

This caffeine-free diet root beer has zero sugar and 115 mg sodium per can. It contains aspartame, acesulfame potassium, flavorings and sodium benzoate.

Seed-oil freeNo added sugarNo added nitritesNo phosphatesNo gums or thickenersNo gluten ingredientsDairy-freeVegetarian
$8.99 12 oz · lowest price at Virtual Concession Stand
Price and stock checked Nov 1, 2026
Key nutrition facts
0caloriesPer serving · 1 Can
Protein
0g
Fiber
—
Added sugar
0g
Sodium
115mg
Saturated fat
—
From the product label
Ingredients: CARBONATED WATER, CARAMEL COLOR, SODIUM BENZOATE (PRESERVATIVE), ASPARTAME, ACESULFAME POTASSIUM, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, MALIC ACID, QUILLAIA EXTRACT
On Open Food FactsNOVA 4Ultra-processed foodTheir grades, for reference; not part of our score. Data: Open Food Facts (ODbL).
57 / 100
Fair Scored automatically
Weighted as beveragesMedium confidence · Scored on 8 of 11 inputs
Nutrition · counts 35%75
Ingredients · counts 30%52
Processing · counts 10%25
Sourcing · counts 10%50
Transparency · counts 15%50
Why it scores 57
Nutrition 75 · Typical for drinks; no added sugar per 1 Can
Ingredients 52 · Aspartame (artificial sweetener, −12); Acesulfame K (artificial sweetener, −12); Benzoates (sodium benzoate, benzoic acid) (additive, −10); 2 more
Processing 25 · Diet soda with artificial sweeteners, flavorings, color and preservative
Sourcing 50 · No origin or production practices are stated
Transparency 50 · Full ingredient list includes unspecified natural and artificial flavors
Contains aspartame and acesulfame potassium
Contains sodium benzoate
Evidence behind the Ingredients deductions
Varies by additive−24 for benzoates, artificial flavours, caramel colour
Mixed evidence−24 for aspartame, acesulfame k
Scored Oct 20, 2026 · Scoring guide v3.1 · Updated Oct 20, 2026 · See what changed

Your diet score

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Diet profiles v1.1. Defaults come from published guidance; you can change any limit. How the diet score works

Better swapsCleaner drinks options that do the same job
Virtual Concession Stand Spindrift Raspberry Lime Sparkling Water 12oz Can
80 +23 No aspartame and acesulfame potassium
Virtual Concession Stand Spindrift Grapefruit Sparkling Water 12oz Can
78 +21 No aspartame and acesulfame potassium
Virtual Concession Stand Waterloo Sparkling Water Peach Single 12oz Can
71 +14 No aspartame and acesulfame potassium
Similar, for lessSame kind of food, scoring about as well or better, for less than $0.75/oz here
Virtual Concession StandSpindrift Raspberry Lime Sparkling Water 12oz Can
80+23
$1.19 · $0.099/oz · 87% less per oz
Virtual Concession StandSpindrift Grapefruit Sparkling Water 12oz Can
78+21
$1.19 · $0.099/oz · 87% less per oz
Virtual Concession StandWaterloo Sparkling Water Peach Single 12oz Can
71+14
$1.69 · $0.14/oz · 81% less per oz
Ingredients
CARBONATED WATER CARAMEL COLOR SODIUM BENZOATE (PRESERVATIVE) ASPARTAME ACESULFAME POTASSIUM NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS MALIC ACID QUILLAIA EXTRACT
8 ingredients 3 to avoid
Sourcing

Origin not disclosed on the product page.

Additives6 additives · 4 moderate risk
Benzoates (sodium benzoate, benzoic acid) (E210–E212)PreservativeModerate risk
Can form small amounts of benzene with vitamin C in drinks, and was part of the 2007 UK hyperactivity study mix.
Aspartame (E951)SweetenerModerate risk
IARC classified it as possibly carcinogenic (Group 2B) in 2023, while JECFA kept its acceptable daily intake.
Acesulfame K (E950)SweetenerModerate risk
Limited long-term data; in a large French cohort (2022) artificial sweetener intake was associated with higher cancer risk.
Artificial flavoursFlavouringModerate risk
Undisclosed synthetic compounds; the FDA delisted seven synthetic flavours in 2018 after cancer findings in animals.
Caramel colour (E150)ColourLimited risk
Some types (E150c, E150d) can contain 4-MEI, which IARC lists as possibly carcinogenic (Group 2B); levels are regulated.
Malic acid (E296)AcidNo risk
The natural acid in apples; considered safe.
Matched from the ingredient list. Risk levels summarise findings from EFSA, the FDA, IARC and published studies; they explain a concern, not a diagnosis.

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