Ohio Code § 913.24

§ 913.24.

(A) All nonalcoholic flavored carbonated beverages or soda waters shall be prepared from

a sweetening ingredient or nonnutritive sweetener, flavoring, potable carbonated water,

with or without harmless color, and with or without acidulation by the use of harmless

organic acids, or pure phosphoric acid;  all nonalcoholic flavored still beverages

and fruitades shall be prepared from a sweetening ingredient or nonnutritive sweetener,

flavoring, potable water, with or without harmless color, and with or without acidulation

by the use of harmless organic acids or pure phosphoric acid. (B) Sweetened flavored carbonated beverages, noncarbonated beverages, or fruitades shall

contain not less than eight per cent of sugars by weight, on a dry basis, except dry

beverages, which if labeled “dry,” shall contain not less than seven per cent of sugars

by weight on a dry basis, and except beverages made in accordance with division (F)

of this section. (C) Whenever colors are contained in soft drinks or soft drink flavors, they shall be

pure vegetable artificial colors or certified artificial colors approved under the

federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, or caramel.  Products containing artificial color shall be labeled “artificially colored” or

with an equivalent designation approved by the director of agriculture. (D) All water used in the manufacture or preparation of any soft drink shall be safe

potable water free from pathogenic bacteria. (E) Soft drinks or soft drink flavors may be preserved with benzoate of soda or with

such other preservatives and in amounts as are approved by the director.  When such preservatives are used, the name of such preservative must be declared

on the label of such soft drinks or soft drink flavors. (F) Any “diet beverage” or diet beverage base may be made with nonnutritive or combinations

of nutritive and nonnutritive sweeteners and shall contain only ingredients approved

by the director.  The caloric value of such beverage shall be at least fifty per cent less than the

caloric value of the comparable product made without nonnutritive sweeteners.  The label of a beverage made with combinations of nutritive and nonnutritive sweeteners

shall bear a statement of its caloric content per fluid ounce, its carbohydrate content

per fluid ounce, the name and percentage of nonnutritive sweetener used, and a statement

to the effect that it does contain sweeteners and is not for use by diabetics without

the advice of a physician.  The label of a beverage made with only nonnutritive sweeteners, with or without

flavor ingredients which in their natural state contain residual sugars, shall state

that the beverage contains nonnutritive sweeteners, the name and percentage of the

nonnutritive sweetener used, and that the beverage is prepared for persons who wish

to restrict their intake of ordinary sweets. (G) Water of any kind, prepared or compounded to simulate any natural spring water or

natural mineral water, and bearing the name of such natural water, shall be clearly

labeled so that it is not misleading, and such water shall not be described as a natural

mineral or spring water.  All mineral waters, whether of natural or artificial origin, sold or offered for

sale must be of good quality when judged by the results of the sanitary chemical analysis,

special significance being attributed to the presence of nitrate, to free ammonia

in excess of five hundredths of a milligram per liter, and to an undue amount of organic

matter;  if not so found, they are adulterated.