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Non-alcoholic beverages

MTN Dew Mountain Dew Code Red Soda 12 Fluid Ounce Aluminum Can

Bad out of 100 High confidence
  • Not permitted in some countries
  • Dye with an EU warning label
  • Contains synthetic dyes
  • Ultra-processed
  • High in sugar
  • Contains added sugars
  • Contains caffeine
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Why it scores 7

MTN Dew Mountain Dew Code Red Soda 12 Fluid Ounce Aluminum Can scores 7 out of 100 (Bad) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Brominated vegetable oil (BVO): The FDA revoked its authorization in 2024 because there is no longer a reasonable certainty of no harm; California bans it from 2027. Regulatory
  2. High fructose corn syrup: An added sugar. Strong
  3. Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong

Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.

Better sodas

The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.

The Receipt

Mountain Dew Code Red Soda 12 Fluid Ounce Aluminum Can

START100

Ingredients

  • Brominated vegetable oil (BVO)
    Regulatory The FDA revoked its authorization in 2024 because there is no longer a reasonable certainty of no harm; California bans it from 2027. [1][2][3]
  • High fructose corn syrup
    Strong An added sugar. [4][5][6][7]
  • Red 40
    Regulatory In the EU and UK, foods with this color must state that it "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children". [8][9][10][11][12][13]
subtotal−50

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [14]
  • 6 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: color (added), emulsifier, flavoring, industrial sugar or starch hydrolysate, sequestrant and thickener, stabilizer or gelling agent. [14]
subtotal−25.5

Nutrition per 100 ml

  • Sugars 12.3 g / 100 ml
    Strong Very high in sugar. [4]
  • Energy 46 kcal / 100 ml
    Info Energy-dense for its volume. [5]
subtotal−18
TOTAL 7Bad

100 − 93.5 = 6.5 → 7

Can’t score above 25. Contains brominated vegetable oil (BVO), whose use in food has been revoked in the US. [1][15]

Can’t score above 49. Contains brominated vegetable oil (BVO), an ingredient of very high concern. [1][2][3]

Can’t score above 79. Contains high fructose corn syrup, an ingredient of high concern. [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][16]

Can’t score above 79. High in sugars (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [17]

GTIN 00012000000621 · 2025-05-03

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

High confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 ml

Energy46 kcal
Fat0 g
Saturated fat0 g
Trans fat0 g
Carbohydrates12.3 g
Sugars12.3 g
Fiber0 g
Protein0 g
Salt0.1 g

Serving: 12 fl oz (355 ml) (360 ml)

Ingredients

High Moderate Not recognized Tap an ingredient for its evidence and rules.
Label text, as published

Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Orange Juice Concentrate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hexametaphosphate (To Protect Flavor), Sodium Benzoate (Preserves Freshness), Natural Flavor, Caffeine, Sodium Citrate, Gum Arabic, Calcium Disodium Edta (To Protect Flavor), Red 40, Brominated Vegetable Oil, Yellow 5, Blue 1

Allergens and diets

  • Palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

Healthiest non-alcoholic beverages in the US

Sources

  1. Revocation of Authorization for Use of Brominated Vegetable Oil in Food (89 FR 55040)

    Federal Register (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) · Jul 3, 2024 · Law

    “This action is being taken because there is no longer a reasonable certainty of no harm from the continued use of BVO in food.”

    federalregister.gov

  2. Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO)

    U.S. Food and Drug Administration · Jul 2, 2024 · Regulator

    “The FDA no longer allows for the use of brominated vegetable oil (BVO) in food.”

    fda.gov

  3. California AB 418 (2023), the California Food Safety Act (Health and Safety Code §109025)

    California Legislative Information · Oct 7, 2023 · Law

    “Commencing January 1, 2027, a person or entity shall not manufacture, sell, deliver, distribute, hold, or offer for sale, in commerce a food product for human consumption that contains any of the following substances”

    leginfo.legislature.ca.gov

  4. Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children

    World Health Organization · Mar 4, 2015 · Agency assessment

    “In both adults and children, WHO recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake”

    who.int

  5. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030

    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture · January 2026 · Regulator

    “Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”

    cdn.realfood.gov

  6. Added and free sugars should be as low as possible

    European Food Safety Authority · Feb 28, 2022 · Agency assessment

    “Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”

    efsa.europa.eu

  7. 21 CFR 184.1866 High fructose corn syrup

    Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), U.S. Office of the Federal Register · Mar 24, 2023 · Law

    “a sweet, nutritive saccharide mixture containing either approximately 42 or 55 percent fructose”

    ecfr.gov

  8. Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of 16 December 2008 on food additives

    European Union (Official Journal) · Dec 16, 2008 · Law

    “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.”

    eur-lex.europa.eu

  9. Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 (as it applies in the UK), Annex V: food colours requiring additional labelling

    legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives) · Law

    “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.”

    legislation.gov.uk

  10. Food additives and hyperactive behaviour in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the community: a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial

    The Lancet · November 2007 · Peer-reviewed

    “Artificial colours or a sodium benzoate preservative (or both) in the diet result in increased hyperactivity in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the general population.”

    doi.org

  11. Tracking Food Industry Pledges to Remove Petroleum Based Food Dyes

    U.S. Food and Drug Administration · Regulator

    “FD&C Green No. 3, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 5, FD&C Yellow No. 6, FD&C Blue No. 1, and FD&C Blue No. 2—by the end of 2027.”

    fda.gov

  12. California AB 2316 (2024), Pupil nutrition: substances: prohibition

    California Legislative Information · Sep 28, 2024 · Law

    “beginning December 31, 2027, would prohibit a school district, county superintendent of schools, or charter school”

    leginfo.legislature.ca.gov

  13. List of Select Chemicals in the Food Supply Under FDA Review

    U.S. Food and Drug Administration · Jul 29, 2026 · Regulator

    “The table below includes select food ingredients (including food and color additives), food contact substances, and contaminants under FDA review as of May 12, 2026 .”

    fda.gov

  14. Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  15. Modification to the List of permitted food additives with other accepted uses to remove brominated vegetable oil

    Health Canada · Aug 30, 2024 · Regulator

    “Therefore, Health Canada has modified the List of Permitted Food Additives with Other Accepted Uses by removing brominated vegetable oil as proposed.”

    canada.ca

  16. 21 CFR 74.705 FD&C Yellow No. 5

    Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), U.S. Office of the Federal Register · Dec 29, 2016 · Law

    “shall specifically declare the presence of FD&C Yellow No. 5 by listing the color additive as FD&C Yellow No. 5 among the list of ingredients.”

    ecfr.gov

  17. Guide to creating a front of pack (FoP) nutrition label for pre-packed products sold through retail outlets

    Department of Health and Social Care / Food Standards Agency (GOV.UK) · Nov 8, 2016 · Regulator

    “Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”

    assets.publishing.service.gov.uk

  18. Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/63 of 14 January 2022 amending Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 as regards the food additive titanium dioxide (E 171)

    European Union (Official Journal) · Jan 14, 2022 · Law

    “titanium dioxide (E 171) can no longer be considered safe when used as a food additive.”

    eur-lex.europa.eu

  19. Color Additive Petition From Center for Science in the Public Interest, et al.; Request To Revoke Color Additive Listing for Use of FD&C Red No. 3 in Food and Ingested Drugs (90 FR 4628)

    Federal Register (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) · Jan 16, 2025 · Law

    “This order is effective January 15, 2027, except for amendatory instruction 4, which is effective January 18, 2028.”

    federalregister.gov

  20. Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of 30 November 2009 on cosmetic products

    European Union (Official Journal) · Nov 30, 2009 · Law

    “cosmetic products shall not contain any of the following: (a) prohibited substances — prohibited substances listed in Annex II”

    eur-lex.europa.eu

  21. HHS, FDA to Phase Out Petroleum-Based Synthetic Dyes in Nation’s Food Supply (press release)

    U.S. Food and Drug Administration · Apr 22, 2025 · Regulator

    “Initiating the process to revoke authorization for two synthetic food colorings—Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B—within the coming months.”

    fda.gov

  22. Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analyses

    BMJ · Feb 28, 2024 · Peer-reviewed

    “Greater exposure to ultra-processed food was associated with a higher risk of adverse health outcomes, especially cardiometabolic, common mental disorder, and mortality outcomes.”

    doi.org

  23. Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain: An Inpatient Randomized Controlled Trial of Ad Libitum Food Intake

    Cell Metabolism · July 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  24. Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine is Too Much?

    U.S. Food and Drug Administration · Regulator

    “For most adults, the FDA has cited 400 milligrams* a day — that's about two to three 12-fluid-ounce cups of coffee — as an amount not generally associated with negative effects.”

    fda.gov

  25. Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex III point 4.1 (beverages with high caffeine content)

    European Union (Official Journal) · Oct 25, 2011 · Law

    “‘High caffeine content. Not recommended for children or pregnant or breast-feeding women’”

    eur-lex.europa.eu