# Caffeinated beverages **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [March 6, 2000, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeinated-beverages/1620 "2000-03-06T20:38:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2000, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeinated-beverages/1620/1 "2000-03-06T20:38:00Z")
I was just reading the column on what sodas have the most/least caffeine, and, in passing, it’s mentioned that orange sodas contain no caffeine. This is incorrect, though a common misconception. In fact, Sunkist orange soda contains more caffeine than Coke does! -astraeus * * * The Mailbag article referred to is: [Which soft drinks have the most and least caffeine?](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mcaffeine.html) – CKDextHavn [Note: This message has been edited by CKDextHavn] ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2000, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeinated-beverages/1620/2 "2000-03-06T21:01:00Z")
And the basis for this claim is??? Not saying you are wrong, just saying that a lot of people in several threads here have asserted such things, only to have them proven wrong upon review of actual evidence. 😉 A citation to your source material always helps on this board. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![astraeus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecb155/32.png) [@astraeus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astraeus)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2000, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeinated-beverages/1620/3 "2000-03-06T21:15:00Z")
Sorry, I’m new here, but I should’ve paid more attention. It turns out I was a little off. Sunkist has just slightly less caffeine than Coke, but more than Pepsi. A source can be found at the Center for Science in the Public Interest at: [http://www.cspinet.org/new/cafchart.htm](http://www.cspinet.org/new/cafchart.htm) -astraeus ---
**Author:** ![KimKatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ac91a4/32.png) [@KimKatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KimKatt)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2000, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeinated-beverages/1620/4 "2000-03-06T21:17:00Z")
I found two web articles that also made this claim, though neither of them offered any actual support. The first gives the amount of caffiene in Sunkist Orange as 40 grams, and claims that number to be 3 grams higher than Pepsi. I guess the thing to do would be read the side of the can, huh? Does anyone out there have a can of Sunkist available for some light reading? [http://lists.webvalence.com/sites/shalepaul/shalecoach/listArchive/Broadcast.D19990521.html](http://lists.webvalence.com/sites/shalepaul/shalecoach/listArchive/Broadcast.D19990521.html) [http://www.squirreltales.com/articles/hydrate.html](http://www.squirreltales.com/articles/hydrate.html) ---
**Author:** ![pluto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f08c70/32.png) [@pluto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pluto)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2000, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeinated-beverages/1620/5 "2000-03-06T22:09:00Z")
I’ve read the ingredients for Sunkist and seen caffeine listed but I’ve never seen an amount. AFAIK, no soda lists the amount of caffeine it contains. * * * “Cheddar?” “We don’t get much call for that around here, Sir.” ---
**Author:** ![MattStL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ccd318/32.png) [@MattStL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MattStL)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2000, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeinated-beverages/1620/6 "2000-03-06T22:10:00Z")
The last time I looked at the ingredients in a Sunkist orange, I was struck by another ingredient: _ester of wood resin_. What is this stuff, anyway? Sounds like some noblewoman. “Lady Ester of Wood Resin made an appearance last night at the UK Society for Decaffeinated Beverages…” ---
**Author:** ![KimKatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ac91a4/32.png) [@KimKatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KimKatt)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2000, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeinated-beverages/1620/7 "2000-03-08T06:40:00Z")
Matt, the “ester of wood resin” refers to “an emulsifier and stabiliser in soft drinks” (quote taken from this link: [http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg24/health/sc/oldcomm7/out16\_en.html).](http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg24/health/sc/oldcomm7/out16_en.html).) It has been tested on rats, if that makes you feel any better - bleah. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![xekul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/838e76/32.png) [@xekul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xekul)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2000, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeinated-beverages/1620/8 "2000-03-07T22:15:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Katt: > \*\*I found two web articles that also made this claim, though neither of them offered any actual support. The first gives the amount of caffiene in Sunkist Orange as 40 grams, and claims that number to be 3 grams higher than Pepsi. I guess the thing to do would be read the side of the can, huh? > > \*\* I think that should be mg… considering the LD-50 for caffeine is 10 g 🙂 * * * ``All of your dreams will come true. All of my dreams came true, but now… I have a bunch of other dreams.’’ – Sonic Youth. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2000, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeinated-beverages/1620/9 "2000-03-07T23:35:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by astraeus: > I was just reading the column on what sodas have the most/least caffeine, and, in passing, it’s mentioned that orange sodas contain no caffeine. > > This is incorrect, though a common misconception. In fact, Sunkist orange soda contains more caffeine than Coke does! This page [Calorie, Nutrient and Ingredient Content of Major Types of Soft Drinks](http://www.nsda.org/softdrinks/ingredients.html), from a source referenced in the mailbag item _[Which soft drinks have the most and least caffeine? (21-Jul-1999)](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mcaffeine.html)_, lists orange sodas as containing no caffeine. Perhaps Sunkist is the exception. ---
**Author:** ![KimKatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ac91a4/32.png) [@KimKatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KimKatt)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2000, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeinated-beverages/1620/10 "2000-03-08T01:30:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by xekul: > I think that should be mg… considering the LD-50 for caffeine is 10 g 🙂 > > \*\* Whoops, you are correct of course, that should have said milligrams. Of the sites I have perused on this issue, all which list orange pops list Sunkist as having 40mg, and other orange pops as having no caffiene. Sounds like Sunkist is the exception. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2000, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeinated-beverages/1620/11 "2000-03-09T06:14:00Z")
Arnold, the web page that astraeus later referenced when I asked for some evidence does list Sunkist Orange as having caffeine, actually, 3 mg more per serving than Pepsi. Most other orange pops are listed as having none. Sunkist would, indeed appear to be the exception. (Question: did you read all the messages before posting your response? 😉 )