# Caffeine in Sprite? Feldspar in milkshakes? What's gonig on? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 1, 2001, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeine-in-sprite-feldspar-in-milkshakes-whats-gonig-on/79243 "2001-09-01T02:19:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tiyj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@tiyj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiyj)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2001, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeine-in-sprite-feldspar-in-milkshakes-whats-gonig-on/79243/1 "2001-09-01T02:19:11Z")
Two drink related questions: 1 - My fiance swears that they did an experiment in high school chemistry class that proved Sprite was chock full of caffeine, despite its label. I think he’s having memory issues. 2 - An officemate swears that her college geology professor/expert had it on good authority that McDonald’s milkshakes are thickened with feldspar. Any chance on debunking (or confirming) either of these drink dilemmas? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Duality](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.duality/32/4098_2.png) [@Mr.Duality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Duality)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2001, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeine-in-sprite-feldspar-in-milkshakes-whats-gonig-on/79243/2 "2001-09-01T03:25:48Z")
I’ve heard bentonite is an ingredient of McD’s shakes. It’s a mineral used in drilling mud, as in oil drilling. Lubricates things, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2001, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeine-in-sprite-feldspar-in-milkshakes-whats-gonig-on/79243/3 "2001-09-01T05:14:18Z")
From McDonalds web site: > [@](#): > > **Shake Mix:** > Whole milk, sucrose, nonfat milk solids, corn syrup solids, cream, guar gum, sodium hexametaphosphate, carrageenan, imitation vanilla flavor, cellulose gum. > **Chocolate Flavored Shake Syrup:** > High fructose corn syrup, water, corn syrup, invert sugar, dutch processed and natural cocoa (processed with alkali), caramel color, salt, potassium sorbate (preservative), polyglycerol esters of fatty acids, artificial flavor, xanthan gum, ethyl vanillin, artificial color (FD&C red #40). > **Strawberry Flavored Shake Syrup:** > High fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, water, invert sugar, strawberry juice concentrate, citric acid, sodium benzoate as a preservative, propylene glycol, artificial color (FD&C red 40, FD&C yellow 6, FD&C blue 1), artificial flavor. > **Vanilla Flavored Shake Syrup:** > High fructose corn syrup, water, corn syrup, sugar, caramel color, tartaric or citric acid, propylene glycol, sodium benzoate (preservative), ethyl vanillin, vanillin. Carrageenan is a thickener made from Irish Sea Moss, a kind of seaweed. Don’t see any feldspar or bentonite. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2001, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeine-in-sprite-feldspar-in-milkshakes-whats-gonig-on/79243/4 "2001-09-01T06:05:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tiyj \* > \*\*1 - My fiance swears that they did an experiment in high school chemistry class that proved Sprite was chock full of caffeine, despite its label. I think he’s having memory issues. > \*\* I drink lots and lots of Sprite. I am probably one of the biggest consumers of Spite on Earth. I kid you not. Sprite has never, ever had caffeine. Haj ---
**Author:** ![Space\_Otter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Space\_Otter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Space_Otter)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2001, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeine-in-sprite-feldspar-in-milkshakes-whats-gonig-on/79243/5 "2001-09-01T07:55:04Z")
Caffeine has taste. Its kind of bitter, this is why no caf Coke tastes slightly different than real Coke. I imagine that if Sprite did have caffeine, by now they would have added “Caffeine Free Sprite” to their product line to increase market share. Mountain Dew, however, has a lot of caffeine. ---
**Author:** ![warmgun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecccb3/32.png) [@warmgun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/warmgun)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2001, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeine-in-sprite-feldspar-in-milkshakes-whats-gonig-on/79243/6 "2001-09-01T09:48:20Z")
Then why does Diet Dr. Pepper taste a lot like real DP? ---
**Author:** ![Cleophus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e57/32.png) [@Cleophus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cleophus)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2001, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeine-in-sprite-feldspar-in-milkshakes-whats-gonig-on/79243/7 "2001-09-01T14:42:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by warmgun \* > \*\*Then why does Diet Dr. Pepper taste a lot like real DP? \*\* Diet sodas do not remove the caffeine, instead, they have a lowered number of calories. That’s why one sees Caffeine Free Diet Pepsi. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2001, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeine-in-sprite-feldspar-in-milkshakes-whats-gonig-on/79243/8 "2001-09-01T15:23:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DanBlather \* > \*\*From McDonalds web site: > > > [@](#): > > > > **Shake Mix:** > > Whole milk, sucrose, nonfat milk solids, corn syrup solids, cream, guar gum, sodium hexametaphosphate, carrageenan, imitation vanilla flavor, cellulose gum. > > \*\* I thought I might point out that sodium hexametaphosphate is the active ingredient in Calgon® Water Softener. Sodium hexametaphosphage is also used in oil drilling to disperse clay particles. ---
**Author:** ![Space\_Otter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@Space\_Otter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Space_Otter)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2001, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeine-in-sprite-feldspar-in-milkshakes-whats-gonig-on/79243/9 "2001-09-01T17:27:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cleophus \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by warmgun \* > > \*\*Then why does Diet Dr. Pepper taste a lot like real DP? \*\* > > Diet sodas do not remove the caffeine, instead, they have a lowered number of calories. That’s why one sees Caffeine Free Diet Pepsi. \*\* Thanks Cleophus. Warmgun, next time at the market look at the varieties of Coke available (for example). There’s regular, caffeine free, diet, and caffeine free diet just to name a few. And maybe in some places you can still get Tab, which is like diet coke before they had diet coke but still produced because it allows them to market it differently. Really, the differences between all of them is miniscule, as even the cheapest generic budget soda tastes 99% like Coke or Pepsi. Plus, Coke et al have bottlers all over the country and many mess with the percents of various sugars used (corn syrup, sucrose, fructose) so despite what they want you to believe its not an identical product. Cecil has a column on this from long ago I believe. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2001, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeine-in-sprite-feldspar-in-milkshakes-whats-gonig-on/79243/10 "2001-09-02T01:54:00Z")
McDonalds’ Only recently started using real milk in their milkshakes… Remember that they used to be simply called “Shakes”? The change came from the popularity of the film _Volcano_– While it was being promoted, the SFX people mentioned that they used huge quantities of methycil dyed orange-- and explained that most people’s experience of methycil was as the thickening agent in McDonald’s “Shakes”… Not surprisingly, sales declined, and the company responded by changing over to real milk shakes. **"Now, with _Milk!_"** Yummmm. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2001, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeine-in-sprite-feldspar-in-milkshakes-whats-gonig-on/79243/11 "2001-09-02T13:25:40Z")
I am going to have to ask for a cite on that. I’ve been hearing the rumor that McD shakes don’t contain milk for the last 15 or 20 years. But lo and behold, every time I look for it on the menu, I see the stylized Real symbol indicating a real dairy product. I was surprised the first time I noticed it, in the early to mid 1980s, because I hadn’t believed it possible that my 8th grade science teacher would spread Urban Legends. Snopes agrees with me that there is real milk (and always has been, apparently) [Do McDonald’s beverages contain yucky non-food substances?](http://www.snopes2.com/horrors/food/mcdshake.htm) There’s no actual ice cream in the shakes, though. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2001, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeine-in-sprite-feldspar-in-milkshakes-whats-gonig-on/79243/12 "2001-09-02T14:07:01Z")
I worked at McD’s in the early 80’s. Even back then I’d get questions about the ingredients of the shakes. We could not call them “milk shakes” because due to some arcane law, milk shakes must contain ice cream. McD’s shakes had something called “ice milk” in them instead of ice cream so they were shakes but not milk shakes. Nevertheless, they always had some sort of milk based product in them…and a lot of chemicals. Haj ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2001, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeine-in-sprite-feldspar-in-milkshakes-whats-gonig-on/79243/13 "2001-09-04T04:29:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bibliophage \* > **I am going to have to ask for a cite on that.** If memory serves, I picked that up from the Toronto Globe & Mail while the film was being promoted. An extremely cursory peek on the net found only [this site](http://sturgeon.apcc.com/currents1.nsf/refs/29D1426574022FC3C12567CA0054277F?OpenDocument). Less compelling than I’d hope, as it’s a quote from the folks who did the digital effects, not the practical effects, and at that they can’t seem to grasp simple spelling. And they don’t name a particular franchise. But I’m going to bed. > [@](#): > > “We created 65 shots for Volcano, and 36 of these included adding lava to the scenes. We did over a third of the lava in the movie - and of these, 21 were 100% computer-generated. Just as a point of interest, the other kind of lava actually uses a food additive called methycil which is also used in fast-food milk shakes! In the film Volcano they used roughly 750 gallons of methycil - died flourescent orange and red.” ---
**Author:** ![wooba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/aeb1de/32.png) [@wooba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wooba)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2001, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeine-in-sprite-feldspar-in-milkshakes-whats-gonig-on/79243/14 "2001-09-04T05:01:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tiyj \* > \*\* > 1 - My fiance swears that they did an experiment in high school chemistry class that proved Sprite was chock full of caffeine, despite its label. I think he’s having memory issues. > \*\* I know for sure in Canada it does not contain caffeine… the law only allows certain types of drinks to have it added… (cola, possibly other dark drinks such as dr. pepper)… I saw a TV show that said the drink companies were pressuring the government to allow its use in other drinks… The example they used was mountain dew which has caffeine in the USA, but not Canada… Sprite may or may not apply… I’m just throwing out the information… ---
**Author:** ![AbbySthrnAccent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@AbbySthrnAccent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AbbySthrnAccent)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2001, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeine-in-sprite-feldspar-in-milkshakes-whats-gonig-on/79243/15 "2001-09-04T05:20:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by warmgun \* > \*\*Then why does Diet Dr. Pepper taste a lot like real DP? \*\* It doesn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Amazing\_Magic-Gro\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e95f7d/32.png) [@Amazing\_Magic-Gro\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazing_Magic-Gro_Monster)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2001, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeine-in-sprite-feldspar-in-milkshakes-whats-gonig-on/79243/16 "2001-09-04T05:46:05Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by DanBlather \* \*\*From McDonalds web site: > [@](#): > > **Shake Mix:** > Whole milk, sucrose, nonfat milk solids, corn syrup solids, cream, guar gum, sodium hexametaphosphate, carrageenan, imitation vanilla flavor, cellulose gum…\*\* [SODIUM HEXAMETAPHOSPHATE:](http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/s3866.htm) Hazards Identification: ## Emergency Overview CAUTION! MAY CAUSE IRRITATION TO SKIN, EYES, AND RESPIRATORY TRACT. MAY BE HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED OR INHALED. **Mc Yummy!!** ---
**Author:** ![OxyMoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9a140/32.png) [@OxyMoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OxyMoron)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2001, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeine-in-sprite-feldspar-in-milkshakes-whats-gonig-on/79243/17 "2001-09-04T13:07:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Amazing Magic-Gro Monster \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by DanBlather \* > > \*\*From McDonalds web site: > > > > > [@](#): > > > > > > **Shake Mix:** > > > Whole milk, sucrose, nonfat milk solids, corn syrup solids, cream, guar gum, sodium hexametaphosphate, carrageenan, imitation vanilla flavor, cellulose gum…\*\* > > [SODIUM HEXAMETAPHOSPHATE:](http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/s3866.htm) > > Hazards Identification: > > ## Emergency Overview > > CAUTION! MAY CAUSE IRRITATION TO SKIN, EYES, AND RESPIRATORY TRACT. MAY BE HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED OR INHALED. > > **Mc Yummy!!** \*\* > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bibliophage \* > > **I thought I might point out that sodium hexametaphosphate is the active ingredient in Calgon® Water Softener.** _ **ANCIENT CHINESE SECRET, HUNH?** _ ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2001, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/caffeine-in-sprite-feldspar-in-milkshakes-whats-gonig-on/79243/18 "2001-09-04T18:44:38Z")
From “22 Short Films About Springfield”: Lou: You know, I went to the McDonald’s in Shelbyville on Friday night – Wiggum: [interrupting] The McWhat? Lou: Uh, the McDonald’s. I, I never heard of it either, but they have over 2,000 locations in this state alone. Eddie: Must’ve sprung up overnight. Lou: You know, the funniest thing though; it’s the little differences. Wiggum: Example. Lou: Well, at McDonald’s you can buy a Krusty Burger with cheese, right? But they don’t call it a Krusty Burger with cheese. Wiggum: Get out! Well, what do they call it? Lou: A Quarter Pounder with cheese. Wiggum: Quarter Pounder with cheese? Well, I can picture the cheese, but, uh, do they have Krusty partially gelatinated non-dairy gum-based beverages? Lou: Mm-hm. They call ‘em, “shakes.” Eddie: Huh, shakes. You don’t know what you’re gettin’.