Strawberry milks
Nesquik Strawberry Lowfat Milk
14 fl oz (414 mL)
Score
- Not permitted in some countries
- Contains synthetic dyes
- Ultra-processed
- High in sugar
- Contains added sugars
- Contains emulsifiers studied for gut effects
- Contains artificial flavors
Why it scores 14
Nesquik Strawberry Lowfat Milk scores 14 out of 100 (Bad) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
- minus 20 points Red 3: The FDA revoked its authorization for food in January 2025 under the Delaney Clause because high doses produced tumors in male rats; the FDA says there is no evidence of this effect in humans. Regulatory
- 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 milk
-
Chocolate Organic Lowfat Milk Horizon Organic · 8 fl oz (237 mL) No banned ingredients · No synthetic dyes Score 61 out of 100 , 47 points higher -
1% Lowfat Milk Lactaid · 64 oz No banned ingredients · No synthetic dyes Score 100 out of 100 , 86 points higher -
Organic 1% Lowfat Milk Horizon Organic · 1/2 gallon (1.89 L) No banned ingredients · No synthetic dyes Score 100 out of 100 , 86 points higher -
1% Lowfat Milk Hood · 0.5 gallon No banned ingredients · No synthetic dyes Score 100 out of 100 , 86 points higher -
1% Lowfat Milk Prairie Farms Dairy Inc. No banned ingredients · No synthetic dyes Score 100 out of 100 , 86 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Strawberry Lowfat Milk
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Red 3 minus 20 points
- Carrageenan minus 7.5 points
- Cellulose gum (carboxymethylcellulose) minus 2.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 3 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 3 points
Nutrition per 100 ml
- Added sugars 4.3 g / 100 ml minus 9 points
- Saturated fat 2 g / 100 ml minus 1 points
- Salt 0.5 g / 100 ml minus 1 points
- Energy 250 kcal / 100 ml minus 4 points
100 − 86 = 14
Can’t score above 25. Contains Red 3, whose use in food has been revoked in the US. [4]
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
Can’t score above 79. High in sugars (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [18]
Nutrition per 100 ml
| Energy | 250 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 4 g |
| Saturated fat | 2 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 40 g |
| Sugars | 38 g |
| Added sugars | 4.3 g |
| Fiber | 0.2 g |
| Protein | 14 g |
| Salt | 0.5 g |
Serving: 1 bottle (414 ml)
Ingredients
- LOWFAT MILK
- SUGAR (high concern)
- 2% CALCIUM CARBONATE
- CELLULOSE GEL
- NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR
- CARRAGEENAN (moderate concern)
- GELLAN GUM
- CELLULOSE GUM (moderate concern)
- CITRIC ACID
- SALT
- RED 3 (high concern)
- VITAMIN A PALMITATE
- VITAMIN D3
Label text, as published
LOWFAT MILK, SUGAR, 2% CALCIUM CARBONATE, CELLULOSE GEL, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, CARRAGEENAN, GELLAN GUM, CELLULOSE GUM, CITRIC ACID, SALT, RED 3, VITAMIN A PALMITATE, VITAMIN D3.
Allergens and diets
Contains: Milk
- Not vegan
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
Packaging
Plastic
Context only: no points in v1.
More strawberry milks on GoodSwap
More from Nesquik
Sources
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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
-
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
-
Added and free sugars should be as low as possible
“Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
“This order is effective January 15, 2027, except for amendatory instruction 4, which is effective January 18, 2028.”
federalregister.gov
-
“Studies in other animals or in humans did not show the same effect and there is no evidence showing FD&C Red No. 3 causes cancer in humans.”
fda.gov
-
“E 127 Erythrosine 200 only cocktail cherries and candied cherries”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
California AB 418 (2023), the California Food Safety Act (Health and Safety Code §109025)
“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
-
“We found direct associations between the risk of type 2 diabetes and exposures to various food additive emulsifiers widely used in industrial foods, in a large prospective cohort of French adults.”
doi.org
-
Dietary emulsifiers impact the mouse gut microbiota promoting colitis and metabolic syndrome
“carboxymethylcellulose and polysorbate-80, induced low-grade inflammation and obesity/metabolic syndrome in wild-type hosts and promoted robust colitis in mice predisposed to this disorder.”
doi.org
-
Re-evaluation of carrageenan (E 407) and processed Eucheuma seaweed (E 407a) as food additives
“However, the Panel noted uncertainties as regards the chemistry, the exposure assessment and biological and toxicological data.”
doi.org
-
Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)
monographs.iarc.who.int
-
“Relative to control subjects, CMC consumption modestly increased postprandial abdominal discomfort and perturbed gut microbiota composition in a way that reduced its diversity.”
doi.org
-
“This study found positive associations between risk of CVD and intake of five individual and two groups of food additive emulsifiers widely used in industrial foods.”
doi.org
-
“The Panel concluded that there was no need for a numerical ADI and that there would be no safety concern at the reported uses and use levels for the unmodified and modified celluloses”
doi.org
-
Saturated fatty acid and trans-fatty acid intake for adults and children: WHO guideline
“WHO recommends that adults and children reduce saturated fatty acid intake to 10% of total energy intake (strong recommendation).”
who.int
-
“For adults, WHO recommends less than 2000 mg/day of sodium (equivalent to less than 5 g/day salt), or just under a teaspoon.”
who.int
-
“Table 3: Criteria for drinks (per 100ml)”
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
-
“titanium dioxide (E 171) can no longer be considered safe when used as a food additive.”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
Revocation of Authorization for Use of Brominated Vegetable Oil in Food (89 FR 55040)
“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
-
Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of 30 November 2009 on cosmetic products
“cosmetic products shall not contain any of the following: (a) prohibited substances — prohibited substances listed in Annex II”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
Tracking Food Industry Pledges to Remove Petroleum Based Food Dyes
“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
-
HHS, FDA to Phase Out Petroleum-Based Synthetic Dyes in Nation’s Food Supply (press release)
“Initiating the process to revoke authorization for two synthetic food colorings—Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B—within the coming months.”
fda.gov
-
California AB 2316 (2024), Pupil nutrition: substances: prohibition
“beginning December 31, 2027, would prohibit a school district, county superintendent of schools, or charter school”
leginfo.legislature.ca.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