Redd’s Hard Apple is a flavored malt beverage made by the Miller Brewing Company. It contains 5% alcohol by volume and is marketed as having a crisp, apple flavor. Redd’s Hard Apple has become popular in recent years, advertised as a refreshing alternative to beer. But what exactly is in this drink? Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients and nutrition facts of Redd’s Hard Apple.
Ingredients
The main ingredients in Redd’s Hard Apple are:
- Water
- High fructose corn syrup
- Apple juice concentrate
- Natural flavors
- Citric acid
- Sodium citrate
- Sucralose
- Red 40
Water makes up the bulk of Redd’s Hard Apple. High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is added as a sweetener. HFCS is commonly used in processed foods and beverages as a cost-effective sweetener.
Apple juice concentrate provides the apple flavor. Natural flavors enhances the apple taste. Citric acid and sodium citrate are used as preservatives and acidity regulators.
Sucralose, an artificial sweetener, also known as Splenda, adds sweetness without calories or carbohydrates. Red 40 provides the reddish color.
Nutrition Facts
Here are the nutrition facts for a 12 oz serving of Redd’s Hard Apple:
As you can see, a serving contains 176 calories, mostly from carbohydrates. It also provides 43g of sugar, which accounts for most of the calories.
Redd’s Hard Apple contains no fat, protein, fiber or nutrients like vitamins and minerals. The main ingredients are water, HFCS, and apple juice concentrate.
High Fructose Corn Syrup
High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is one of the primary ingredients in Redd’s Hard Apple. HFCS makes up the largest source of calories and carbohydrates.
HFCS is a sweetener derived from corn starch. It consists of fructose and glucose, with a higher fructose content compared to table sugar. HFCS comes in different formulations, including HFCS-42 and HFCS-55, which indicate the percentage of fructose.
HFCS provides a sweet taste, helps retain moisture, and extends shelf life in processed foods and drinks. It’s added to Redd’s Hard Apple as a cost-effective sweetener.
However, there are some health concerns regarding high consumption of HFCS:
- HFCS may contribute to obesity and diabetes due to its high calorie content.
- Fructose is processed differently than glucose in the body and may raise triglycerides.
- HFCS contains no nutritional value.
Overall, the HFCS in Redd’s Hard Apple provides sweetness, but also significantly increases the drink’s calorie and sugar content.
Apple Juice Concentrate
The key ingredient that gives Redd’s Hard Apple its apple flavor is apple juice concentrate.
Apple juice concentrate is made by squeezing and filtering apple juice to remove oxygen and water. This concentrates the juice down to a syrupy liquid that contains the flavors and sugars of apple juice.
The concentrate adds natural apple flavor and some sweetness to Redd’s Hard Apple. It also gives the drink its golden color.
The pros of apple juice concentrate:
- Provides natural apple taste
- Contains some vitamins like Vitamin C
- Adds sweetness without artificial sweeteners
The cons:
- Loses some nutrients during processing
- High in natural sugars like fructose
Overall, the apple juice concentrate adds both flavors and extra sugars to Redd’s Hard Apple. But as a processed food product, it loses some of the vitamin and antioxidant benefits of fresh apple juice.
Natural Flavors
In addition to apple juice concentrate, Redd’s Hard Apple contains “natural flavors” to enhance the apple taste.
Natural flavors are compounds derived from fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices, or other plant or animal sources. They are used to artificially mimic or enhance flavors.
For example, a natural apple flavor could contain chemicals extracted from apple skin, flesh, juice or essence of apples.
The pros of natural flavors:
- Enhance or recreate flavors
- Provide flavor consistency
- Can be listed as “natural flavors” on labels
The cons:
- “Natural” is loosely defined
- Still artificial even if derived from natural sources
- May contain chemical solvents used for extraction
So while “natural flavors” sounds healthy, it can still mean added artificial chemicals. The natural apple flavors in Redd’s Hard Apple enhance the apple taste, but don’t provide nutrition.
Preservatives
Redd’s Hard Apple contains preservative ingredients like citric acid and sodium citrate.
Preservatives are added to food and drinks to prevent spoilage and extend shelf life. Common preservatives used in beverages include:
- Sodium benzoate
- Potassium sorbate
- Sodium citrate
- Citric acid
In Redd’s Hard Apple, citric acid and sodium citrate are used as preservatives and acidity regulators.
Citric acid provides tartness and antioxidant properties. Sodium citrate controls acidity levels. Both inhibit microbial growth.
While these preservatives are considered safe and GRAS (generally recognized as safe) by the FDA, some consumers prefer to avoid or limit additives.
The preservatives in Redd’s Hard Apple help maintain safety and freshness, but add to the long list of processed ingredients.
Sucralose
Sucralose is an artificial sweetener used in Redd’s Hard Apple. It’s marketed as Splenda and is about 600 times sweeter than sugar.
Unlike sugar, sucralose is not metabolized for energy. It passes through the body undigested.
The pros of sucralose:
- Zero calories and carbohydrates
- Doesn’t raise blood sugar
- Heat stable for baking
The cons:
- Artificial, processed chemical
- May affect gut bacteria and health
- Can cause diarrhea or other digestive issues in some people
The sucralose in Redd’s Hard Apple enhances the sweetness without adding calories. But it’s still an artificial additive with potential digestive side effects.
Food Dyes – Red 40
Red 40 is a reddish-orange food dye used to color Redd’s Hard Apple.
Red 40 is one of the most widely used food dyes approved by the FDA. It’s found in drinks, candy, cereal, snack foods, and condiments.
Pros of food dyes like Red 40:
- Vibrant, appealing colors
- Consistent colors across batches
Cons:
- Linked to hyperactivity in children
- May cause allergic reactions
- Unnecessary artificial additive
The Red 40 in Redd’s Hard Apple provides color, but no nutritional value. Consumers who wish to avoid synthetic food dyes may want to steer clear.
Vitamins, Minerals, and Nutrients
Redd’s Hard Apple contains minimal vitamins, minerals or beneficial nutrients.
There are 176 calories in a 12 oz serving, mostly from added sugars. Other than traces of Vitamin C from the apple juice concentrate, there are no significant vitamins or minerals.
Redd’s Hard Apple is a highly processed beverage low in nutritional value. The ingredients like HFCS, preservatives, artificial sweeteners, and food dyes provide flavor and color, but no health benefits.
Some healthier alternatives for fruit-flavored beverages include:
- Diluted 100% apple juice
- Sparkling water with apple slice garnish
- Apple cider diluted with seltzer
- Fresh apple and vegetable juices
These provide more nutrients from whole foods, without artificial additives found in Redd’s Hard Apple.
Potential Health Concerns
Because of its highly processed ingredients and lack of nutrition, drinking Redd’s Hard Apple may raise some health concerns:
- Weight gain – At 176 calories per 12 oz, Redd’s Hard Apple is high in added sugar and low in nutrients. The excess calories from sugar can lead to obesity.
- Blood sugar spikes – Ingredients like HFCS rapidly increase blood glucose and insulin levels, which may worsen diabetes.
- Dental cavities – The sugar content creates an acidic environment that demineralizes and erodes tooth enamel.
- High triglycerides – Heavy fructose consumption from HFCS can raise blood triglycerides, increasing heart disease risk.
- Fatty liver disease – Excess fructose may promote non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
- Artificial additives – Ingredients like sucralose, natural flavors and Red 40 may cause negative health effects in sensitive individuals.
Of course, occasional consumption of Redd’s Hard Apple is unlikely to cause serious harm in healthy people. But regularly drinking it in excess may contribute to chronic disease over the long-term due to its lack of nutrition and health-harming additives.
The Bottom Line
Redd’s Hard Apple is marketed as a refreshing flavored malt beverage infused with apple flavor. But in reality, it’s a highly processed, additive-filled drink high in sugar and low in nutritional value.
The main ingredients in Redd’s Hard Apple are water, HFCS, apple juice concentrate, natural flavors, preservatives, artificial sweeteners, and food dyes.
It provides minimal complete nutrition beyond empty calories and carbohydrates from added sugars. The ingredients may promote weight gain, blood sugar swings, fatty liver disease, and other chronic health issues.
Occasional light consumption of Redd’s Hard Apple is unlikely to cause major concerns in healthy people. But it cannot be considered a healthy beverage choice overall, especially in excess amounts.
Those looking for a more nutritious and wholesome apple-flavored drink should consider consuming diluted fresh apple juice, apple cider, apple-infused sparkling water, or apple and vegetable juices made from whole produce.
These provide the delicious flavors of apples without the processed additives and sweeteners in Redd’s Hard Apple. As with any beverage choice, moderation is key to good health.