Is Club Soda Ultra Processed?
Not Typically Ultra-Processed
Club soda is minimally processed (Level 1). It is simply carbonated water with small amounts of added minerals — typically sodium bicarbonate, sodium citrate, and potassium sulfate. No sugar, no flavors, no preservatives.
Key Findings
- •Club soda is carbonated water with trace minerals — no sugar, flavors, or preservatives
- •The only difference between club soda, seltzer, and sparkling water is whether minerals are added
- •At Level 1, club soda is among the least processed beverages in the grocery store alongside plain water and unsweetened tea
Why Is Club Soda Level 1?
Club soda is one of the simplest beverages available. The manufacturing process involves dissolving carbon dioxide into purified water under pressure (carbonation) and adding trace minerals for a slightly salty, mineral taste. Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), sodium citrate, and potassium sulfate are the typical mineral additions — all simple, recognizable compounds. This distinguishes club soda from plain sparkling water (which has no added minerals) and seltzer (which is identical to sparkling water). Tonic water is the outlier in the carbonated water family, containing sugar and quinine. Club soda contains no sugar, no sweeteners, no flavors, and no preservatives — it is essentially mineral-enhanced sparkling water.
Club Soda Processing Level Distribution
How 999 club soda products break down by processing level:
Average ingredient count: 6.0 · Average nutrition score: 5.0/10
Club Soda Brand Comparison
Comparing the least to most processed club soda products in our database:
| Product | Brand | Level | Score | Ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original Seltzer, Original | Avenue | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 1.0 | 1 |
| Pure Original Sparkling Water Beverage, Pure Original | Our Family | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 1.0 | 1 |
| Pure Original Sparkling Water Beverage, Pure Original | Our Family | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 1.0 | 1 |
| Original Seltzer, Original | Avenue | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 1.0 | 1 |
| Pure Original Sparkling Water Beverage, Pure Original | Our Family | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 1.0 | 1 |
| All Natural Original Sparkling Seltzer Water, Original | Canada Dry | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 1.0 | 1 |
| Original Seltzer Water, Original | Food Club | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 1.0 | 1 |
| Sparkling Water | Meijer | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 1.0 | 1 |
| Sparkling Water | 7 Select | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 1.0 | 1 |
| Sparkling Seltzer Water, Original | Giant Eagle | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 1.0 | 1 |
How to Read Club Soda Labels
- 1
Club soda should list only carbonated water and minerals (sodium bicarbonate, potassium sulfate)
- 2
No sugar, sweeteners, or flavors should be present — if they are, it is a different product
- 3
Sodium content is minimal — typically 35-75mg per 12oz serving from the added minerals
- 4
Club soda, seltzer, and sparkling water are all Level 1 — the mineral addition does not change the processing level
Frequently Asked Questions
Is club soda the same as sparkling water?
Nearly identical. Club soda has small amounts of added minerals (sodium bicarbonate, potassium sulfate) for a slightly mineral taste. Sparkling water and seltzer are just carbonated water with no additions. All three are Level 1.
Is club soda healthier than tonic water?
From a processing standpoint, club soda (Level 1) is far simpler than tonic water (Level 3). Club soda has zero sugar and zero calories. Tonic water contains approximately 32g of sugar per 12oz — comparable to soda.
Does the sodium in club soda matter?
Club soda contains 35-75mg of sodium per serving from added minerals. This is a small fraction of the daily recommended limit. For most people, this amount is negligible.