Fizzy and delightfully fruity, Fanta was a hit the moment it hit the market. The brand is now owned by the Coca-Cola Company which also produces Coke, also known as the king of caffeinated sodas.1
So, does Fanta have caffeine, too?
The answer is no, Fanta does not contain caffeine. That said, it’s no less exciting than its caffeinated brand mates, Coke and Barq’s Root Beer. Fanta has quite an interesting story behind it.
What Is Fanta?
Fanta is a brand of fruit-flavored caffeinated sodas. The most popular flavor by far is Fanta orange, but other Fanta varieties include:
- Cherry
- Fruit Punch
- Grape
- Lime
- Peach
- Raspberry
- Strawberry
- Vanilla
- Cherry Vanilla
- Raspberry Vanilla
All those flavors are also available as Fanta Zero, which is a sugar-free version of the soda.
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Fanta’s Roots: Whey, Fruit Pulp, and WWII
The word “Fanta” is a shortened version of the German word “fantasie,” which means imagination. That’s fitting because the Fanta soda was born out of necessity during World War II.
In 1940, Coca-Cola’s German division was faced with a dilemma. The heavy embargoes of World War II meant it couldn’t get the supplies it needed to make the signature soda.
Enter the division’s Max Keith, who had chemists create a new drink using leftovers from other food industries. This included fruit pulp (like apple fibers left from making cider) and whey, a byproduct of the cheese-making process.
The resulting drink, which they christened “Fanta,” became an instant hit. It sold over 3 million units before the war was over. When the allies eventually took over German factories, Keith handed Fanta to Coca-Cola.
Still, that wasn’t the version that we know today. Fanta was eventually rebranded into Fanta Orange, first introduced in 1955 in Italy. The new version was made with local citrus ingredients and was a vibrant orange color—the Fanta that millions of people love and enjoy today.
Does Fanta Orange Have Caffeine?
No, Fanta Orange is caffeine-free. Fanta Zero Sugar Orange does not have caffeine either.
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Fanta Caffeine Content vs. Other Coca-Cola Products
Curious about how Fanta measures up to some of Coca-Cola’s other products? Here’s a quick rundown of the caffeine content in some popular Coca-Cola beverages. We’re using the 12-fluid-ounce can size for this comparison.
| Coca-Cola Beverage | Caffeine Content per 12 fl. oz. Serving |
| Fanta | 0 mg |
| Coke | 34 mg |
| Diet Coke | 46 mg |
| Coke Zero | 34 mg |
| Barq’s Root Beer | 22 mg |
| Fresca | 0 mg |
| Sprite | 0 mg |
Is Fanta Orange Healthy?
This is a tricky question to answer. While Fanta does not have caffeine, it is loaded with sugar. A 12-ounce can of Fanta Orange has 73 grams of total sugar, primarily from high fructose corn syrup.
According to the American Heart Association, adult men should consume no more than 36 grams of sugar a day, and 25 grams for adult women. Drinking just one can of Fanta Orange would put you way over those recommended sugar limits.
Regular consumption of high fructose corn syrup, in particular, has been linked with a host of health issues such as:
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Liver disease
- Tooth decay
In that case, you may want to consider drinking Fanta Orange Zero Sugar instead, which contains zero sugar. However, it does use aspartame, a controversial low-calorie sweetener. So far though, the FDA has labeled aspartame consumption as safe.
Conclusion
Fanta’s caffeine-free fruity goodness is a delightful break from plain water but beware—regular Fanta has almost three times the amount of sugar that an adult should consume in a day. Over time, this can lead to weight issues, dental problems, and chronic diseases like diabetes.
A healthier alternative is Fanta Orange Zero Sugar, but it does use aspartame as a sweetener. If you’re not comfortable with that, your best bet is to stick with water or if you love citrusy flavors, go for real orange juice instead.
