Is Sparkling Water Safe During Pregnancy? (Updated 2026 Guide)
Updated July 15, 2026
The Answer
Yes, plain sparkling water is generally safe during pregnancy. We reviewed 4,017 products, including 2,464 with an A grade, but added caffeine, sweeteners, dyes, or herbal ingredients can change a drink’s rating.
Carbonated water itself is not the main pregnancy concern; the formulation is. Check flavored, energy style, and functional sparkling waters for caffeine, high fructose corn syrup, synthetic dyes, or herbs such as hibiscus, and consider how much and how often you drink them.
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✓ What's Safe
- • A short ingredient list based on carbonated water, spring water, or mineral water
- • Unsweetened options without high fructose corn syrup or other added sugars
- • A caffeine free label, especially on energy style or functional sparkling waters
- • Color free formulas without synthetic dyes such as Red 40, Yellow 5, or Blue 1
- • Clear ingredient and caffeine amount labeling rather than an unspecified energy or botanical blend
- • A product grade that reflects the exact flavor and formulation, since options from the same category can differ
✗ What to Avoid
- • Sparkling waters containing caffeine, organic caffeine, natural caffeine, or caffeine from green tea unless you can keep total daily caffeine below 200 mg
- • Frequent intake of drinks containing high fructose corn syrup, which adds sugar without making the water more hydrating
- • Products with Red 40, FD&C Red 40, Yellow 5, or Blue 1 when a dye free option is available
- • Medicinal or concentrated hibiscus beverages because human pregnancy safety data are limited
- • Unclear mood, energy, adaptogen, or botanical blends whose active ingredients and amounts are not fully disclosed
- • Assuming every flavored sparkling water is equivalent to plain carbonated water without checking the label
Most Common Ingredients in Sparkling Water Products
We analyzed 4,017 sparkling water products. Here are the most common ingredients, ranked by how often they appear:
Ingredients to Watch Out For in Sparkling Water
These are the most common flagged ingredients across 4,017 sparkling water products we analyzed.
red 40
CAUTION
Red 40 is a synthetic red food dye used in processed foods, drinks, candies, and some medicines. Has limited human pregnancy data and is allowed at regulated food additive levels, but child neurobehavior concerns and high dose animal findings make frequent high dye intake worth limiting.
Found in 306 of 4,017 products (8%)
high fructose corn syrup
CAUTION
High fructose corn syrup is an added sweetener used in drinks and processed foods. Is not a known teratogen at occasional food amounts, but high added sugar intake can displace nutrients and raise gestational diabetes and metabolic concerns.
Found in 303 of 4,017 products (8%)
yellow 5
CAUTION
Yellow 5 is a synthetic yellow azo food dye also called tartrazine or FD&C Yellow No. 5. Has limited human pregnancy data, rare hypersensitivity labeling concerns, and animal/children's neurobehavior signals despite regulated dietary use under ADI based limits.
Found in 179 of 4,017 products (4%)
caffeine
CAUTION
Caffeine is a stimulant found in coffee,tea,cola,energy drinks,chocolate,supplements,and some medicines. Should be counted across all sources and generally limited to below 200 mg/day in pregnancy because higher intake has observational links to miscarriage and fetal growth outcomes.
Found in 159 of 4,017 products (4%)
blue 1
CAUTION
Blue 1 is a certified synthetic blue food color used in candies, drinks, frostings, cereals, and some medicines. Has limited human pregnancy data; regulated food use is not shown to cause fetal harm, but high dose animal neurobehavior findings and child sensitivity concerns support minimizing frequent exposure.
Found in 139 of 4,017 products (3%)
organic caffeine
CAUTION
Organic caffeine is a stimulant found in coffee,tea,cola,energy drinks,chocolate,supplements,and some medicines. Should be counted across all sources and generally limited to below 200 mg/day in pregnancy because higher intake has observational links to miscarriage and fetal growth outcomes.
Found in 19 of 4,017 products (0%)
hibiscus
CAUTION
Hibiscus is a tart edible flower used in teas, beverages, foods, and herbal supplements. Has limited human pregnancy safety data; medicinal teas or supplements may lower blood pressure and uterine or menstrual effects are uncertain.
Found in 16 of 4,017 products (0%)
natural caffeine
CAUTION
Natural caffeine is a stimulant found in coffee,tea,cola,energy drinks,chocolate,supplements,and some medicines. Should be counted across all sources and generally limited to below 200 mg/day in pregnancy because higher intake has observational links to miscarriage and fetal growth outcomes.
Found in 15 of 4,017 products (0%)
Sparkling Water Products We've Analyzed
We graded 4,017 sparkling water products for pregnancy safety. 2,464 received an A grade.
Pregnancy Safe Sparkling Water Products
We found 20 pregnancy safe options. Here are some top picks.
| Grade | Product | Brand |
|---|---|---|
| A | Sparkling Water | Spindrift |
| A | Bloom Pop Watermelon Lime | Bloom Nutrition |
| A | Raspberry Lime Sparkling Water | Spindrift |
| A | Sparkling Natural Mineral Water | — |
| A | Lacroix Lime Sparkling Water | Lacroix |
Your Questions Answered
Is sparkling water safe to drink in pregnancy?
Yes, plain, unsweetened sparkling water is generally safe during pregnancy. Carbonation itself is not the primary concern. Check the label because flavored or functional varieties may contain caffeine, added sugar, synthetic dyes, or herbal ingredients.
What drinks should you avoid while pregnant?
Within the sparkling water aisle, avoid products with poorly disclosed botanical or energy blends and limit drinks with caution rated ingredients. Count caffeine from every source and generally keep the total below 200 mg per day. Choosing plain, caffeine free, unsweetened, and dye free options reduces unnecessary exposures.
Is flavored sparkling water safe during pregnancy?
It depends on the exact formulation. A simple flavored water may differ substantially from a sweetened, caffeinated, dyed, or herb infused drink. Review the full ingredient list and caffeine amount rather than relying on the words “sparkling water” on the front label.
Does carbonation harm the baby?
The available category information does not identify dissolved carbon dioxide in plain sparkling water as a fetal hazard. The more relevant questions involve added ingredients and your total exposure to them. If you want the simplest option, choose water and carbonation with few or no additions.
How much caffeinated sparkling water can I drink while pregnant?
Calculate caffeine by milligrams rather than by number of cans because amounts can vary. Caffeine from sparkling water, coffee, tea, chocolate, supplements, and medicines should all count toward the daily total. The guidance represented here is to remain below 200 mg per day during pregnancy.
Are brightly colored sparkling waters pregnancy safe?
Regulated food use of synthetic dyes is not established here as a cause of fetal harm, but human pregnancy data are limited. Red 40, Yellow 5, and Blue 1 carry caution ratings because of indirect child neurobehavior concerns and high dose animal findings. A dye free drink is the more conservative choice, especially for frequent use.
Are herbal or mood enhancing sparkling waters safe during pregnancy?
Do not assume an herbal or functional drink is equivalent to plain sparkling water. Hibiscus has limited human pregnancy safety data, while concentrated or medicinal exposure may differ from ordinary food amounts. Check every active ingredient and its dose, and ask your prenatal clinician about blends with uncertain pregnancy data.
How Do We Score Products for Pregnancy Safety?
We analyze each product's ingredients and category to flag known risks and provide cautionary notices for general category safety concerns.
A - Safe
Excellent choice! All ingredients are considered safe during pregnancy.
What to do: Use with confidence.
B - Likely Safe
Pretty much safe with very minimal risk. Some ingredients may have limited pregnancy studies, but no significant safety concerns have been identified.
What to do: Use with confidence.
C - Limit
Contains ingredients with some pregnancy considerations. Research shows these ingredients may have limited safety data, potential for minor hormonal effects, or require caution based on animal studies.
What to do: Use sparingly and consider safer alternatives when available.
D - Caution
Similar to C grade but contains multiple cautionary ingredients. The combination increases overall concern.
What to do: Try to avoid if that makes you feel better. If you've already used it, no need to panic.
F - Avoid
Contains ingredients with established risks during pregnancy. Research shows these can cause birth defects, developmental harm, or serious maternal complications.
What to do: Do not use during pregnancy. If you've already used it, don't worry - contact your OBGYN if concerned.
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References
- https://www.hfpappexternal.fda.gov/scripts/fdcc/index.cfm?id=FDCRed40&set=ColorAdditives
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter I/subchapter A/part-74/subpart A/section-74.340
- https://www.fda.gov/food/color additives information consumers/tracking food industry pledges remove petroleum based food dyes
- https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/1327
- https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/4007
- https://apps.who.int/food additives contaminants jecfa database/Home/Chemical/2361
- https://oehha.ca.gov/risk assessment/report/health effects assessment potential neurobehavioral effects synthetic food dyes children
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6636206/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2613118/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7940558/
- https://cdn.realfood.gov/DGA.pdf
- https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2021-12/DGA_Pregnancy_FactSheet-508c.pdf
- https://www.acog.org/womens health/faqs/healthy eating during pregnancy
- https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/php/data research/added sugars.html
- https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/about/gestational diabetes.html
- https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241549028
- https://nesr.usda.gov/2025-dietary guidelines advisory committee systematic reviews/dietary patterns_gestational diabetes
- https://hfpappexternal.fda.gov/scripts/fdcc/index.cfm?id=FDCYellow5&set=ColorAdditives
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter I/subchapter A/part-74#74.705
- https://www.fda.gov/food/nutrition food labeling and critical foods/food allergies