Ricola cough drops are a popular brand of herbal cough suppressant and throat lozenges. Ricola advertises their cough drops as being made with natural herbals and free of artificial colors or preservatives. This leads many people to wonder – do Ricola cough drops have sugar in them?
The Short Answer
Yes, most Ricola cough drops do contain sugar. However, the amount of sugar varies between Ricola product lines and flavors. Some Ricola cough drops contain 2-3 grams of sugar per drop, while others have less than 1 gram. Ricola does offer some sugar-free cough drop options as well.
Examining the Ricola Cough Drop Ingredients
To determine if Ricola cough drops have sugar, we need to look at the ingredients lists for their various product lines and flavors. Here is a breakdown of the main ingredients in some popular Ricola cough drops:
Ricola Herb Throat Drops
These are the classic Ricola cough drops known for their unique herb flavor. The ingredients typically include:
- Sugar
- Glucose syrup
- Herbal extracts (echinacea, sage, thyme, lemon balm, etc)
- Gelatin
- Natural flavors
- Colors (anthocyanins, carotenes)
So the classic Ricola herb throat drops clearly contain sugar in the form of sugar and glucose syrup. These are used to sweeten the drops and mask the strong herbal flavors.
Ricola Cranberry Throat Drops
These drops are sweetened with cranberry juice and contain:
- Sugar
- Glucose syrup
- Cranberry juice concentrate
- Gelatin
- Herbal extracts
- Natural flavors and colors
Again, these cranberry flavored drops contain added sugar as an ingredient.
Ricola Menthol Throat Drops
Ricola’s menthol cough drops have a cool, minty flavor. The ingredients:
- Sugar
- Corn syrup
- Menthol flavoring
- Eucalyptus oil
- Colors (anthocyanins)
The menthol drops use both sugar and corn syrup as sweeteners.
Sugar-Free Ricola
Ricola does make some sugar-free cough drops. These are sweetened with sugar alcohols like sorbitol and mannitol instead of sugar. The rest of the ingredients are similar to regular Ricola drops.
How Much Sugar is in Ricola Cough Drops?
Now that we know most Ricola cough drops contain sugar, the next question is – how much sugar is in each drop? Here is a table with the approximate sugar content for popular Ricola cough drop flavors:
| Ricola Product | Sugar per Drop |
|---|---|
| Herb Throat Drops | 2-3 grams |
| Honey Herb Drops | 3 grams |
| Menthol Drops | 2 grams |
| Cranberry Drops | 3 grams |
| Sugar Free Herb Drops | 0 grams |
As you can see, most regular Ricola drops contain 2-3 grams of sugar per piece. So while not sugar-free, they do have less sugar than many other cough drops and throat lozenges, which can contain up to 4-5 grams of sugar per drop.
Daily Sugar Intake
To put those numbers into context, the American Heart Association recommends no more than:
- 6 teaspoons (25 grams) of added sugar per day for women
- 9 teaspoons (36 grams) for men
So a few Ricola cough drops with 2-3 grams of sugar will provide less than one teaspoon of sugar each. This minimal amount of sugar is unlikely to be an issue for most people if the cough drops are consumed in moderation as medicine for a sore throat or cough.
However, individuals monitoring sugar for medical reasons will want to be aware of the sugar content and stick to the sugar-free versions.
Do Sugar-Free Ricola Cough Drops Taste Different?
When sugar is removed from cough drops, they need to be sweetened with artificial sugar substitutes instead. This sometimes leads to a different taste. So do the sugar-free Ricola cough drops taste different than the regular ones?
Most reviewers say the sugar-free Ricola drops have a very similar flavor profile to the original drops. They describe the sugar-free version as having:
- Same herb flavor
- Same menthol/eucalyptus taste for menthol drops
- Less sweetness than original
- Slight artificial aftertaste from sweeteners
Overall, the consensus is that removing 2-3 grams of sugar does not drastically change the iconic Ricola flavor. The sugar-free drops taste nearly identical, just slightly less sweet.
What Sweeteners are Used in Sugar-Free Ricola?
So if sugar-free Ricola cough drops don’t use real sugar, what gives them their sweetness? Here are the main sugar substitutes used:
Sorbitol
Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol that is about 60% as sweet as sugar. It is extracted from fruits like plums and berries. Sorbitol provides sweetness with fewer calories and less impact on blood sugar than regular sugar.
Mannitol
Like sorbitol, mannitol is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol. It has a similar sweetness level and calorie count to sorbitol. Mannitol has a cooling effect in the mouth.
Xylitol
Xylitol is a popular sugar alcohol made from birch trees and fibrous plant material. It has 40% fewer calories than sugar and does not spike blood sugar or insulin. Xylitol has anti-cavity benefits for teeth.
Sucralose
Sucralose is an artificial sweetener known under brand names like Splenda. It is 600 times sweeter than sugar but contains no calories. Sucralose does not raise blood sugar.
Acesulfame Potassium
Also called Ace-K, this is an artificial sweetener up to 200 times sweeter than sugar. It is often combined with sucralose in sugar-free products.
By using a blend of sugar alcohols and non-nutritive sweeteners, Ricola is able to produce sugar-free cough drops that replicate the sweetness of the original flavor without all the added sugar.
Are Ricola Cough Drops Gluten Free?
In addition to checking for sugar content, people with food intolerances often ask if Ricola cough drops are gluten free. Here is the scoop on whether Ricola contains gluten:
- Most Ricola cough drops are considered gluten free to less than 20 ppm.
- However, they are made in facilities that also process wheat-containing ingredients.
- The sugar-free drops are not gluten free due to barley malt extract.
- Those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity should use caution with Ricola drops.
So most Ricola cough drops are formulated to be gluten-free, except for the sugar-free version. However, there is still a small risk of cross-contamination from shared equipment. Very sensitive individuals should confirm with their doctor before using Ricola.
Do Ricola Cough Drops Contain Dairy or Lactose?
In addition to sugar and gluten, Ricola cough drops do contain small amounts of dairy ingredients. Here’s what to know:
- Most Ricola drops contain milk derivatives like lactose and whey powder.
- They also contain gelatin, which may be derived from dairy.
- Ricola are not considered vegan or dairy-free.
- Those with lactose intolerance may want to avoid Ricola.
While the amounts are small, people with dairy allergies or sensitivities should be aware that Ricola cough drops are not dairy-free. The milk ingredients could trigger a reaction in some individuals.
Do Ricola Cough Drops Contain Medication?
Here is a quick rundown of whether Ricola cough drops contain any actual cough or cold medication:
- Ricola drops do not contain any FDA-approved drug ingredients.
- They don’t have cough suppressants, expectorants, antihistamines, or decongestants.
- The herbs provide soothing effects but aren’t scientifically proven.
- Ricola serves as symptom relief but isn’t a true medicine.
So while the herbal ingredients may provide some smoothing benefits for minor throat irritation, Ricola drops are not considered an actual cold or flu medication. They do not have any approved OTC drug ingredients.
Conclusion
Most Ricola cough drops do contain 2-3 grams of sugar per piece, with the exception of the sugar-free options. The sugar provides added sweetness and flavor. For most consumers, this minimal amount of sugar is not a significant concern when consuming Ricola cough drops in moderation.
Individuals monitoring carbohydrate or sugar intake can instead choose the sugar-free version, which is sweetened with sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners. While not completely sugar-free, regular Ricola cough drops have less sugar than many competing brands.
In addition to sugar content, Ricola cough drops also contain minor amounts of dairy ingredients. While they are considered gluten-free, cross-contamination is possible. Overall, Ricola can be consumed in moderation by most people, but individuals with food restrictions or allergies should check labels and consult a doctor.
