Sodas
Kraft Foods Mio Energy
1
Score
- Dye with an EU warning label
- Contains synthetic dyes
- Ultra-processed
- High in salt
- Contains non-nutritive sweeteners
- Contains caffeine
Why it scores 21
Kraft Foods Mio Energy scores 21 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- minus 20 points Yellow 5: In the EU and UK, foods with this color must state that it "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children". Regulatory
- minus 20 points Red 40: In the EU and UK, foods with this color must state that it "may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children". 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 drink mixes and water enhancers
-
True Lemon Energy True Citrus Co. · 0.57 oz/16.2 g No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 72 out of 100 , 51 points higher -
PurAqua Energy Tropical Fusion drink mix No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 60 out of 100 , 39 points higher -
Energy Açai Berry Liquid Water Enhancer PurAqua No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 60 out of 100 , 39 points higher -
Healthy energy drink mix No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 79 out of 100 , 58 points higher -
Bucked Up Energy Miami · 16 oz No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 55 out of 100 , 34 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Mio Energy
Ingredients
- Yellow 5 minus 20 points
- Red 40 minus 20 points
- Sucralose minus 7.5 points
- Caffeine minus 1.5 points
- Natural flavors minus 1 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 5 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 6 points
Nutrition per 100 ml
- Salt 1.5 g / 100 ml minus 5 points
100 − 79 = 21
Can’t score above 79. Contains Yellow 5, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
Can’t score above 79. High in salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [18]
Nutrition per 100 ml
| Energy | 0 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 0 g |
| Saturated fat | 0 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 0 g |
| Sugars | 0 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
| Salt | 1.5 g |
Serving: 0.5 tsp (2.5 ml)
Ingredients
- WATER
- CITRIC ACID
- MALIC ACID
- CAFFEINE
- TAURINE
- GUARANA EXTRACT
- GINSENG EXTRACT (PANAX)
- NIACINAMIDE (VITAMIN B3)
- VITAMIN B6
- VITAMIN B12
- NATURAL FLAVOR
- SUCRALOSE AND ACESULFAME POTASSIUM (SWEETENERS) (moderate concern)
- SODIUM CITRATE
- POTASSIUM CITRATE
- GUM ARABIC
- SUCROSE ACETATE ISOBUTYRATE
- YELLOW 5 (high concern)
- RED 40 (high concern)
- POTASSIUM SORBATE (PRESERVATIVE)
Label text, as published
WATER, CITRIC ACID, MALIC ACID, CAFFEINE, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF TAURINE, GUARANA EXTRACT, GINSENG EXTRACT (PANAX), NIACINAMIDE (VITAMIN B3), VITAMIN B6, VITAMIN B12, NATURAL FLAVOR, SUCRALOSE AND ACESULFAME POTASSIUM (SWEETENERS), SODIUM CITRATE, POTASSIUM CITRATE, GUM ARABIC, SUCROSE ACETATE ISOBUTYRATE, YELLOW 5, RED 40, POTASSIUM SORBATE (PRESERVATIVE).
Allergens and diets
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
Sources
-
Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of 16 December 2008 on food additives
“may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.”
eur-lex.europa.eu
-
“may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children.”
legislation.gov.uk
-
“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
-
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
-
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
-
21 CFR 74.705 FD&C Yellow No. 5
“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
-
List of Select Chemicals in the Food Supply Under FDA Review
“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
-
Personalized microbiome-driven effects of non-nutritive sweeteners on human glucose tolerance
“As groups, each administered NNS distinctly altered stool and oral microbiome and plasma metabolome, whereas saccharin and sucralose significantly impaired glycemic responses.”
doi.org
-
“Sucralose-6-acetate significantly increased the expression of genes associated with inflammation, oxidative stress, and cancer”
doi.org
-
“EFSA’s experts concluded that the sweetener sucralose (E 955) continues to be safe for consumers for its currently authorised uses as a food additive.”
efsa.europa.eu
-
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
-
Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine is Too Much?
“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
-
Caffeine (EFSA topic page; Scientific Opinion on the safety of caffeine, 2015)
“Caffeine intakes from all sources up to 200mg per day consumed throughout the day do not raise safety concerns for the foetus.”
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
-
“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
-
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
-
“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
-
Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex III point 4.1 (beverages with high caffeine content)
“‘High caffeine content. Not recommended for children or pregnant or breast-feeding women’”
eur-lex.europa.eu