Beverages from desugared fruit juices
Minute Maid Zero Sugar Mango Passion Flavored Fruit Drink
1.53 L
Score
- Ultra-processed
- Contains non-nutritive sweeteners
- Contains added sugars
- No synthetic dyes
Why it scores 29
Minute Maid Zero Sugar Mango Passion Flavored Fruit Drink scores 29 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Aspartame: Labels must warn people with phenylketonuria (PKU) because aspartame contains phenylalanine (US and EU). Regulatory
- minus 20 points Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 18 points 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 juices and juice drinks
-
Zero Sugar Cranberry Juice Ocean Spray · 64 oz No added sugars · No aspartame Score 75 out of 100 , 46 points higher -
Strawberry Mango Zero Sugar Ocean Spray · 10 oz No added sugars · No aspartame Score 76 out of 100 , 47 points higher -
Smoothie Melts Banana, Mango & Passion Fruit Simple Truth Organic Not ultra-processed · No non-nutritive sweeteners Score 79 out of 100 , 50 points higher -
Zero Sugar Cranberry Great Value · 64 fl oz/2 Quart/1.89 L No added sugars · No aspartame Score 64 out of 100 , 35 points higher -
Orange mango passion fruit 100% fruit premium smoothie Nu · 33 cL Not ultra-processed · No non-nutritive sweeteners Score 79 out of 100 , 50 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Zero Sugar Mango Passion Flavored Fruit Drink
Ingredients
- Aspartame minus 20 points
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Acesulfame potassium (Ace-K) minus 7.5 points
- Natural flavors minus 1.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 3 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 3 points
Nutrition per 100 ml
- Energy 2 kcal / 100 ml minus 1 points
100 − 71 = 29
Can’t score above 79. Contains aspartame, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]
Nutrition per 100 ml
| Energy | 2 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 0 g |
| Saturated fat | 0 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 0.4 g |
| Sugars | 0 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
| Salt | 0 g |
Serving: 1 serving (8 fl oz)
Ingredients
- PURE FILTERED WATER
- LEMON JUICE FROM CONCENTRATE
- MANGO PURE FROM CONCENTRATE
- PASSION FRUIT JUICE FROM CONCENTRATE
- APPLE PURE FROM CONCENTRATE
- NATURAL FLAVORS
- CITRIC ACID (PROVIDES TARTNESS)
- VITAMIN C (ASCORBIC ACID)
- POTASSIUM CITRATE (REGULATES TARTNESS)
- ASPARTAME (high concern)
- ACESULFAME POTASSIUM (moderate concern)
- BETA CAROTENE (FOR COLOR)
- ADDS A NEGLIGIBLE AMOUNT OF SUGAR (high concern)
Label text, as published
PURE FILTERED WATER, LEMON JUICE FROM CONCENTRATE**, MANGO PURE FROM CONCENTRATE**, PASSION FRUIT JUICE FROM CONCENTRATE**, LESS THAN 0.5% OF: APPLE PURE FROM CONCENTRATE**, NATURAL FLAVORS, CITRIC ACID (PROVIDES TARTNESS), VITAMIN C (ASCORBIC ACID), POTASSIUM CITRATE (REGULATES TARTNESS), ASPARTAME, ACESULFAME POTASSIUM, BETA CAROTENE (FOR COLOR), **ADDS A NEGLIGIBLE AMOUNT OF SUGAR
Allergens and diets
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
Sources
-
Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex III point 2.3 (aspartame)
“‘contains a source of phenylalanine’ shall appear on the label in cases where aspartame/aspartame-acesulfame salt is designated in the list of ingredients by its specific name.”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
Aspartame hazard and risk assessment results released (IARC, WHO and FAO joint news release)
“Citing “limited evidence” for carcinogenicity in humans, IARC classified aspartame as possibly carcinogenic to humans (IARC Group 2B) and JECFA reaffirmed the acceptable daily intake of 40 mg/kg body weight.”
who.int
-
Aspartame and Other Sweeteners in Food
“The FDA disagrees with IARC’s conclusion that these studies support classifying aspartame as a possible carcinogen to humans.”
fda.gov
-
“Aspartame and its breakdown products are safe for human consumption at current levels of exposure”
efsa.europa.eu
-
Artificial sweeteners and cancer risk: Results from the NutriNet-Santé population-based cohort study
“In this large cohort study, artificial sweeteners (especially aspartame and acesulfame-K), which are used in many food and beverage brands worldwide, were associated with increased cancer risk.”
doi.org
-
WHO advises not to use non-sugar sweeteners for weight control in newly released guideline
“The recommendation is based on the findings of a systematic review of the available evidence which suggests that use of NSS does not confer any long-term benefit in reducing body fat in adults or children.”
who.int
-
Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030
“Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”
cdn.realfood.gov
-
Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children
“In both adults and children, WHO recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake”
who.int
-
Added and free sugars should be as low as possible
“Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
Re-evaluation of acesulfame K (E 950) as food additive (plain language summary)
“The acceptable daily intake (ADI) considered safe for all population groups was set at 15 mg/kg body weight (bw) per day.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
21 CFR 101.22 Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives
“whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”
ecfr.gov
-
“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