Beverage Glossary

Index

A

Additives

the use of permissible additives in food and beverages is to maintain food quality and/or food characteristics ensuring that consumers receive products in safe ready-to-consume form.

Acesulfame K

is a low-calorie sweetener used in a variety of food and beverages. No and low-calorie soft drinks use sweeteners such as acesulfame potassium in order to sweeten drinks without calories.

Aseptic packaging

is multilayered packaging that allows for the sterile packaging of food or beverages

Aluminum

many brands choose to package beverages in aluminum cans. Aluminum is a food-safe material for beverages, is light weight, easily transportable and is a 100% recyclable.

Aspartame

is a low-calorie sweetener used in a variety of food and beverages. No and low-calorie soft drinks use sweeteners such as aspartame in order to sweeten drinks without calories.

B

B Vitamins

B-group vitamins are essential nutrients that play an important role in energy metabolism. 

Beverage

defined as a drink for human consumption, and can include soft drinks, carbonated soft drinks, teas, coffees, juices, fruit-based beverages, dairy based beverages amongst others.

Brown Symbol

packaged food and beverages that are vegetarian are identified by the FSSAI regulated symbol – a brown color filled triangle inside a square.

C

Caffeine

Caffeine is a naturally occurring substance found in plants such as coffee beans, tea leaves, and cocoa beans to name a few. Caffeine is known to be a mild stimulant. The consumption of caffeine in moderate quantities is recognized as safe by a wide range of studies and experts globally.

Calories

Are the measure of energy in a food or beverage. Beverages are available across the no-calorie, low-calorie drinks or regular drinks.

Cans

Cans used for beverages are manufactured from food-safe materials such as aluminum or steel. Cans are often the most recycled beverage packaging material globally.

Carbonation

The process by which carbon dioxide is pumped into a drink under high pressure; to give a drink fizzy property.

CSD

Carbonated Soft Drinks – are drinks that fizz, due to carbonation. Carbon dioxide is pumped into a drink at high pressure

Citric Acid

Type of flavouring used in citrus flavoured soft drinks

Colours

Colours are used in food and beverage products. These colours are derived from both natural and synthetic sources.

Cordial

Is a non-alcoholic fruit-based syrup, made of unfermented fruit juice, sugar or sweeteners, and water.

E

Electrolytes

Electrolytes are salts that are found in the body fluid, tissue and blood, and are essential to proper hydration as these salts are lost during exercise or in the heat.  Common electrolytes include: sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium and magnesium. 

Energy Drinks

Energy drinks are functional beverages, which contain a variety of vitamins, caffeine, taurine and other ingredients. Click here for FAQs on Energy Drinks.

F

Flavors

Flavors are used in all beverages. Flavourings enhance the taste of beverages and are obtained from both natural and artificial sources such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, leaves, herbs, spices and oils. 

From Concentrate

This refers to juice manufactured as a frozen concentrate and/or reconstituted from concentrate. 

Fructose

Fructose is a simple sugar which can be found naturally in fruits and also is a component of both sucrose and high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).

Fruit/Vegetable Juice

is the liquid extracted from fresh fruit or vegetables, either by pressing or mechanical extraction.

Fruit Nectar

Is a beverage prepared from the pulp or juice extracted from fruits.

G

Ginseng

A simple sugar that is the main energy source for the human body.

Glass

Glass bottles are used to package beverages; most bottles are reused and refilled, thus contributing to less wastage in packaging materials

Glucose

A simple sugar, the main energy source of the body

Green Symbol

Packaged food and beverages that are vegetarian are identified by the FSSAI regulated symbol – a green color filled circle inside a square.

Guarana

An ingredient in some energy drinks, derived from a plant native to South America

P

PET

Polyethylene terephthalate is a common plastic used in many beverage, food and other liquid containers. It is lightweight, durable and 100 percent recyclable.

R

RBG

A term used for returnable glass bottles

S

Soda Water

Is a drink made by pumping carbon dioxide into water under pressure, through a process called carbonation, to make it fizzy. Soda water is also known as club soda.

Sodium

A common electrolyte found in sports drinks. 

Sports Drinks

Are functional beverages which contain electrolytes.

Squash

is a non-alcoholic fruit-based syrup, made of unfermented fruit juice, puree or concentrate that can comprise of one or more fruits, and also contains sugar or sweeteners. Squash is usually consumed mixed with water or soda water.

Sucrose

normal table sugar; used by most people in their daily lives

Syrup

is a thick, viscous liquid, primarily containing dissolved sugar.

Synthetic Syrup or Sharbat

are syrups obtained by blending syrup made from sugar or a sugar equivalent such as dextrose or liquid glucose.

Sugar Substitutes

also known as low calorie sweeteners; these are added to foods and beverages to give a sweet taste with limited calories.

T

Taurine

is an amino acid that naturally occurs in not just the human body but also in foods such as fish, scallops and poultry. Taurine used in beverages such as energy drinks are derived from synthetic sources and are thus safe for vegetarians to consume.

W

Water

is a key ingredient in soft drinks

V

Vitamins

Vitamins are organic substances required by the body to stay healthy. Vitamins are sourced from food and beverages. 

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