The old-school soda that went from being a top brand to nearly unfindable

Nypost · May 10, 2026 · 260 words · By Fox News

Product History Nostalgia Consumer Preference

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What to know about Product History

The old-school soda that went from being a top brand to nearly unfindable A lemon-lime soda that was once a mainstay on shelves across the country is now a hard-to-find specialty item that commands a cult following.

Claims checked 6

Techniques found 2

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center86%

Right14%

7 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Why it matters

A decade before 7UP was released, Bubble Up debuted in 1919.

Common ground

The citrusy soft drink has stood the test of time as fans go out of their way for its more natural ingredients and throwback packaging that includes glass bottles.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Appeal to Nature: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Product History story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that Bubble Up has a more natural taste than many of its competitors because it’s made with pure cane sugar and lemon and lime oils, rather than high-fructose corn syrup and artificial flavors, The Tasting Table reported?
How does this story connect Product History with Nostalgia over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/05/10/lifestyle/how-bubble-up-lemon-lime-soda-went-from-…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 2 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

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Loaded Language 80% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Appeal to Nature 70% confidence

Arguing something is good because it is 'natural' or bad because it is 'unnatural'.

Why it matters: Recognizing appeal to nature helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 6 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 3

verified Verified By Reference 2

info Single Source 1

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Claim 1: “Bubble Up has a more natural taste than many of its competitors because it’s made with pure cane sugar and lemon and lime oils, rather than high-fructose corn syrup and artificial flavors, The Tasting Table reported.”

SINGLE SOURCE

While one web search result mentions Bubble Up is formulated with pure cane sugar, there is no evidence provided in the search results from 'The Tasting Table' specifically, nor are there multiple independent sources confirming the 'natural taste' comparison or the specific ingredients list as a reported fact from that outlet.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Bubble tea (also known as pearl milk tea, bubble milk tea, tapioca milk tea, boba tea, or boba; Chinese: 珍珠奶茶; pinyin: zhēnzhū nǎichá, 波霸奶茶; bōbà nǎichá) is a tea-based drink most often containing che…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubble_tea

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Tiger Sugar (Chinese: 老虎堂)is a Taiwanese chain of bubble tea shops. Established in Taichung in November 2017, the chain has operated in Canada, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapor…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_Sugar

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Wine tasting is the sensory examination and evaluation of wine. While the practice of wine tasting is as ancient as its production, a more formalized methodology has slowly become established from the…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wine_tasting

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 2: “Known for its “kiss of lemon, kiss of lime” slogan, Bubble Up was distributed by the Coca-Cola bottler network before Sprite came along.”

CORROBORATED

The slogan 'Kiss of Lemon - Kiss of Lime' is confirmed by a Wikipedia entry regarding trademarks and a web search result. The distribution via Coca-Cola bottlers prior to Sprite is also reported in web search results.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The Bubble-Up Company remained in St. Louis until approximately 1953. In 1953, the Bubble Up Company was located in Peoria, Illinois. The owner at that time was the O-So Grape Co. On April 10, 1959, t…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubble_Up

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Known for its "kiss of lemon, kiss of lime" slogan, Bubble Up was distributed by the Coca-Cola bottler network before Sprite came along.
https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/old-school-soda-went-top-…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Key Facts Bubble Up was first introduced in 1919, making it one of the oldest surviving lemon-lime sodas in American commercial history, predating 7UP's launch by nearly a decade. The soda is formulat…
https://political.org/2026/05/09/bubble-up-how-a-century-old…

verified

Claim 3: “A decade before 7UP was released, Bubble Up debuted in 1919.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia explicitly states Bubble Up was created in 1919. Multiple web sources confirm it predates 7UP by approximately a decade.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Bubble Up is a lemon-lime soft drink brand created in 1919 by Sweet Valley Products Co. of Sandusky, Ohio. It is now manufactured by the Dad's Root Beer Company, LLC, and owned by Hedinger Brands, LLC…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubble_Up

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Bubble sort, sometimes referred to as sinking sort, is a simple sorting algorithm that repeatedly steps through the input list element by element, comparing the current element with the one after it, …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubble_sort

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop (Japanese: サイダーのように言葉が湧き上がる, Hepburn: Saidā no Yō ni Kotoba ga Wakiagaru) is a Japanese animated slice-of-life romantic comedy-drama film produced by Sublimation and Sign…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Words_Bubble_Up_Like_Soda_Pop

+ 3 more evidence sources

verified

Claim 4: “The makers of Dad’s Root Beer acquired the company in 2007 and produces Bubble Up in limited quantities today.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia and official company history (Dad's Root Beer) confirm that Hedinger Brands, LLC purchased Dad's Root Beer and the Bubble Up brand in 2007. CoinMela confirms it is produced in limited quantities.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Dad's Root Beer is an American brand of root beer that was created in Chicago in 1937 by Ely Klapman and Barney Berns. It is currently owned by Hedinger Brands, LLC, and sold and marketed by the Dad's…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dad's_Root_Beer

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Dr. Wells is a "pepper-style" carbonated soft drink manufactured by the Dad's Root Beer Company, LLC. of Jasper, Indiana, and owned by Hedinger Brands, LLC. Developed and introduced in 1935 as a "pepp…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Wells

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 5: “The company changed ownership several times, struggled with distribution and fell into bankruptcy.”

CORROBORATED

The CoinMela source explicitly mentions the brand changed ownership multiple times and faced bankruptcy. Wikipedia confirms the current ownership by Hedinger Brands after previous iterations.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The AI bubble is a theorised stock market bubble growing amidst the AI boom, a period of rapid increase in investment in artificial intelligence (AI) that is affecting the broader economy. Speculation…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AI_bubble

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+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 6: “The premium soda — which can fetch up to $3.49 for a single 12-ounce bottle — is available at some grocery stores, including Albertsons, online through Amazon and at specialty soda shops.”

CORROBORATED

Two independent web sources confirm availability at Albertsons, Amazon, and specialty soda shops. CoinMela mentions the premium pricing for single bottles.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Despite its scarcity, Bubble Up can be found at select grocery stores, through online retailers such as Amazon, and at specialty soda shops. The appeal of the drink has spawned a dedicated fanbase wil…
https://coinmela.com/toddler-steals-dads-soda-while-he-isnt-…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Bubble Up Soda is available for purchase from a variety of online and in-person retailers. For those looking to purchase in person, Albertsons sells the lemon-lime variety in 12 fl. oz. servings. For …
https://cysoda.com/article/where-to-buy-bubble-up-soda

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — DJ REMIX of Bubble Up by Gummibär the gummy bear for the Bubble Up Remix Contest. No, it did not win.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INlExyMeGUQ

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.