In a previous post we reported that the Center for Science in the Public Interest filed a petition stating that the caramel coloring used in cola soft drinks and other foods was contaminated with a cancer-causing chemical and should be banned. This past March California passed a law mandating drinks containing a certain level of carcinogens come with a cancer warning label and some manufacturers changed their production for cola beverages sold in that state. As reported in USA Today, now an environmental group has claimed that the caramel coloring used in certain brands still contains a worrisome level of a carcinogen for drinks sold outside of California.

The chemical is 4-methylimidazole, or 4-Mel, which can form during the cooking process and, as a result, may be found in trace amounts in colas and other foods. The watchdog group The Center for Environmental Health found in its testing that certain cola products sold outside of California still tested positive for the chemical.

Because of the coloring, high fructose corn syrup and other additives in colas, a better choice if you’re looking for a healthy beverage is Syfo. Our Original Seltzer and Naturally-Flavored Sparkling Waters contain no artificial coloring or sweeteners. They are also free of sugar, sodium or preservatives and are made with purified water.

In a recent article on the Shape.com website, writer Keri Gans tries to clear up some of the confusion sowed by some beverage companies seeking to offer products that are perceived to be healthier than soda and diet soda. Some of these are marketed as flavored water, sparkling water or flavored sparkling waters but as Ms. Gans notes in her piece, not all of these beverages are the same or necessarily healthy for you.

Many of these products that are being marketed as healthy beverage alternatives contain artificial sweeteners, sodium, vitamins, minerals or other additives that may or may not be good for you. And as the article points out, some brands claiming to contain natural flavors can use additives in the process that are anything but natural.

To help clear up the confusion Ms. Gans recommends two categories of beverages at the top of her list as the healthiest for her readers — sodium-free plain sparkling water and sparkling waters that are flavored from the peel of a fruit. Syfo is the cream of the crop for both categories as both our Original Seltzer and Naturally-Flavored Sparkling Waters contain no sugar, sodium, artificial sweeteners, preservatives or other additives. And our delicious Lemon-Lime, Tangerine-Orange and Wild Cherry flavors are extracted from the peels of real fruit with nothing added in the process and are propylene glycol (PG) and brominated vegetable oil (BVO) free.

And here’s what perhaps is the most important difference: all Syfo products are made with water that’s purified through a multi-step process (including reverse osmosis) that removes all impurities, so you can be sure that you’re drinking the purest and healthiest beverages around.

You can read the full Shape article on flavored sparkling waters and other beverages here.

A recent New York Times article featured a profile on Eli Miller, New York City’s seltzer man. Mr. Miller, 79,  has been delivering seltzer in canisters with siphon tops to people in Brooklyn, NY for more than half a century. In 1960 there were more than 500 seltzer men in the city and now there are less than a handful — Mr. Miller says he can now count his delivery competition on one hand.

Eli Miller is carrying on the tradition of the Syfo Brand that our founder, Charles Schussler, began in 1949 in Brooklyn. Mr. Schussler started a business making and delivering seltzer water from the back of his beer buggy throughout his home borough of Brooklyn,  The seltzer water in those days was bottled in siphon canisters (also spelled syphon) just as Mr. Miller does today, and people would ask for “syfos” of seltzer water. And that’s how Syfo got its name.

What makes Syfo so unique — and why we call it Original Seltzer — is that the same freshness and effervescence that people clamor for or remember from their delivery man is conveniently available on their supermarket shelf. Using only purified water, we take great care through our production and bottling processes to deliver the carbonation and quality that people came to expect from their delivery man all those years ago.

To learn more about all of Syfo’s seltzer and sparkling waters products click here or you can learn more about our history here.

As more and more information is released on the negative health effects of sodas, sports drinks and energy drinks, it can seem a daunting task to find beverages that are both healthy and enjoyable for your family. However, it doesn’t have to be a choice between health and enjoyment.

Syfo’s Original Seltzer and Naturally-Flavored Sparkling Waters are healthy and refreshing just on their own, since they’re made with 100% purified water and contain no sugar, sodium, artificial sweeteners, preservatives or other additives. But if you’re looking for a little extra pizzaz for the taste buds, you can make your own healthy beverage taste sensations by trying these recipes or creating one of your own:

• Lemon-Lime Cranapple Snap — This simple and delicious recipe was submitted by a Syfonatic and uses Syfo Naturally Flavored Lemon-Lime Sparkling Water combined with cranapple juice for a snappy taste sensation.

• Syfo Orange Julius — A healthy and refreshing recipe that’s perfect for diabetics, this recipe calls for fresh-squeezed Florida orange juice and Syfo Naturally Flavored Tangerine-Orange Sparkling Water.

• Sparkling Cranberry Grapefruit Punch — Here’s a cranberry-flavored recipe with a unique taste twist; it combines cranberry juice cocktail, fresh-squeezed Florida grapefruit juice and Syfo Naturally Flavored Lemon-Lime Sparkling Water.

• For all you chocoholics out there, there’s Syfo and Chocolate Syrup. Submitted by another Syfo fan, it mixes chocolate syrup with any Syfo flavor or Syfo Original Seltzer.

There are plenty of other healthy and delicious beverage recipes in our Recipes Section or you can create one of your own and submit it here! Tickle your taste buds, delight your family and stay healthy with Syfo.

On Earth Day, April 22, people around the world will be bringing renewed attention to the well-being of the environment and their own personal health. At Syfo, promoting a healthy environment and health in people are our utmost concerns.

We’ve taken steps to ensure that Syfo products are as GREEN as possible in every way, so they’re both healthy for the planet as well as healthy beverages for your body. We do everything we can to reduce waste in the supply stream by making every part of the Syfo packaging and bottling fully recyclable. Since the water we use in Syfo is purified through reverse osmosis, we return the wastewater from the process back into the environment in a more purified state. Because the water we use to produce Syfo comes from a centrally located aquifer, it doesn’t require a heavy carbon footprint to make it to the production facility and the consumer.

Our transportation system is set up to run as efficiently as possible and saves fuel. We ship directly to grocers’ warehouses and consolidate our less-than-truckload shipments. Finally, we collaborate with our suppliers and our grocers to develop and measure sustainability initiatives, thereby reducing waste, conserving energy and saving money.

We love our planet Earth and you can be sure that we care about making our world a better place for future generations.  We love our wonderful customers and care about making our products, Syfo Original Seltzer and Naturally-Flavored Sparkling Waters, as pure as possible which is why all of our beverages are made with purified water and are free of sugar, sodium, artificial sweeteners, flavors, and preservatives. We only use the finest, highest quality natural flavorings. All of this makes Syfo a healthy beverage for your body and the environment.