Is Diet Lilt Vegan? What Vegans Need To Know

Lilt, a sparkling pineapple and grapefruit-flavoured soft drink, has been produced by The Coca-Cola Company since the 1970s. It is sold in the UK, Ireland, Gibraltar, and Seychelles. The drink is known for its totally tropical taste and contains pineapple and grapefruit juice. However, Lilt is not suitable for vegans as it contains traces of fish gelatin, which is used as a stabiliser for the added colours. This makes Lilt one of the few Coca-Cola products that are not plant-based.

Lilt contains fish gelatine

Lilt, a sparkling pineapple and grapefruit-flavoured soft drink, is not suitable for vegans or vegetarians as it contains fish gelatine. The drink, produced by The Coca-Cola Company, is sold primarily in the UK, Ireland, Gibraltar, and Seychelles.

Fish gelatine is a protein derived from collagen, which is extracted from the skin, scales, and bones of fish. This process involves soaking these parts of the fish in acid, alkali, or hot water and enzymes. As a result, fish gelatine is not suitable for vegans or vegetarians as fish are animals.

In Lilt, gelatine is used as a stabiliser for the artificial yellow-orange colour, beta-carotene. This prevents the colour from separating and forming an oily ring on the surface of the drink, keeping the drink's appearance consistent. Additionally, the gelatine prevents the beta-carotene from dissolving, maintaining its colour brightness over a longer period.

The presence of fish gelatine in Lilt may come as a surprise to some, as the ingredient list does not explicitly mention it. This is because, according to UK Food Labelling Regulations, gelatine does not need to be included in the labelling of soft drinks when used as a solvent or carrier for an additive in small quantities.

The Coca-Cola Company has stated that they will not be changing the ingredients of Lilt, even after its rebranding to "Fanta Pineapple & Grapefruit" in 2023. As a result, vegans and vegetarians will need to continue avoiding this drink or seek alternative tropical-flavoured beverages that are free from animal products.

The gelatine stabilises the colour

Lilt, a sparkling pineapple and grapefruit-flavoured soft drink, is not vegan. This is because it contains small amounts of fish gelatine which is used as a stabiliser for its colouring.

The role of the gelatine is to keep the colour dissolved in the water, preventing it from separating and forming an oily ring at the surface. This is important because Lilt is marketed as having a ""totally tropical taste" and an appealing yellow-orange colour. The gelatine stabilises the colour by keeping it dissolved in the water, ensuring that it stays evenly distributed throughout the drink. This prevents the colour from separating and floating to the surface, creating an unappetising appearance.

The gelatine also helps to maintain the brightness of the colour, keeping it vibrant and appealing to consumers. This is especially important for Lilt as its tropical flavour and bright colour are key selling points. By stabilising the colour, the gelatine ensures that the drink maintains its intended appearance and doesn't become dull or discoloured over time.

The use of gelatine as a stabiliser is particularly important for Lilt's colouring agent, beta-carotene, which is a type of carotene derived from fruits and vegetables. Without the gelatine, the beta-carotene colour would dissolve and separate from the water, impacting the drink's appearance.

While the addition of gelatine helps to maintain Lilt's bright, tropical appearance, it also renders the drink unsuitable for vegans and vegetarians. This has led to disappointment among consumers who assumed that Lilt was vegan-friendly, given that it is essentially carbonated water with fruit juice.

The presence of fish gelatine in Lilt highlights the importance of checking ingredient labels and doing additional research, as some animal-derived ingredients may not be listed explicitly. It also underscores the challenge of finding vegan alternatives to popular soft drinks, even those that seem plant-based at first glance.

Coca-Cola doesn't label Lilt as non-vegan

Lilt, a sparkling pineapple and grapefruit-flavoured soft drink, is not suitable for vegans or vegetarians. This is because it contains traces of fish gelatin, which is used as a stabiliser for the added colours.

The drink is produced by The Coca-Cola Company and is one of the only drinks they make that is not entirely plant-based. Lilt was rebranded to Fanta Pineapple & Grapefruit in 2023, but the Coca-Cola Company stated that they would not be changing the ingredients, production method or taste. This means that the fish gelatine remains in the drink, and vegans should continue to avoid it.

The presence of fish gelatine in Lilt is particularly surprising given that the drink is essentially fizzy water with a bit of fruit juice. The ingredient list does not contain any obvious non-vegan items, with plant-based stabilisers such as acacia gum, guar gum and glycerol esters of wood rosins. However, the carotene used in the drink is stabilised using fish gelatine, which is not suitable for vegans or vegetarians as it is derived from the skin, scales and bones of fish.

While Coca-Cola does not label Lilt as non-vegan, they do provide information on their website, stating that "a few of our drinks do contain small traces of fish gelatine which is used as a stabiliser for the beta-carotene colour". This lack of clear labelling on the product itself can make it difficult for consumers to make informed choices, especially as Lilt is marketed as having a totally tropical taste and containing real fruit juice.

The absence of a clear non-vegan label on Lilt may be due to UK Food Labelling Regulations, which state that gelatine does not need to be included in the labelling of soft drinks if it is used as a "solvent or carrier for an additive" in small quantities. However, this lack of transparency can make it challenging for consumers to make informed choices about the products they purchase, especially for those with dietary restrictions or ethical concerns.

Lilt is not suitable for vegetarians

Lilt, a sparkling pineapple and grapefruit-flavoured soft drink, is not suitable for vegetarians. Although the drink is marketed as having a totally tropical taste and containing real fruit juice, it also contains animal products.

Lilt is produced by The Coca-Cola Company and is sold primarily in the UK and Ireland, as well as Gibraltar and the Seychelles. The drink is not suitable for vegetarians because it contains traces of fish gelatin, which is derived from the skin, scales, and bones of fish. This ingredient is used as a stabiliser for the added colours, specifically the artificial yellow-orange colour, beta-carotene. The gelatin keeps the colour dissolved in the water, preventing it from separating and forming an oily ring on the surface.

The presence of fish gelatin means that Lilt is one of the few Coca-Cola products that are not plant-based and are unsuitable for vegetarians. It is worth noting that the ingredient list on the label of Lilt does not mention any animal ingredients, which is not unusual for soft drinks. However, according to the manufacturer, the drink does contain small amounts of fish gelatin.

For vegetarians, it is important to be aware of hidden animal-derived ingredients in products, especially when it comes to food and beverages. Lilt is an example of a product that may not be immediately recognised as containing animal products, but upon closer inspection, reveals the presence of fish gelatin, making it unsuitable for vegetarian diets.

Lilt Zero is also non-vegan

Lilt, a sparkling pineapple and grapefruit-flavoured soft drink, is not suitable for vegans. The drink contains traces of fish gelatin, which is used as a stabiliser for its colouring.

The non-vegan ingredient in Lilt is fish gelatin, which is used as a stabiliser for the beta-carotene colour. Beta-carotene is an orange-yellow pigment found in fruits and vegetables, including carrots, sweet potatoes, and pumpkins. It is added to Lilt to give it an artificial yellow-orange colour. Fish gelatin is derived from the skin, scales, and bones of fish and is used to keep the colour dissolved in the water, preventing it from separating and forming an oily ring on the surface.

The presence of fish gelatin means that Lilt and Lilt Zero are not suitable for vegans or vegetarians. This is surprising, as Lilt is one of the few Coca-Cola products that are not plant-based. The Coca-Cola Company has stated that they will not be changing the ingredients, production method, or taste of Lilt, so the fish gelatin will remain in the drink.

It is worth noting that the use of gelatine as a stabiliser for beta-carotene may be specific to the UK market. In other countries, such as the US, gelatine may not be used as a stabiliser for beta-carotene, and Lilt may be vegan-friendly in those markets.

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