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Powerade Orange
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Drink

Powerade Orange

28 oz

Poor out of 100 Medium confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • Contains added sugars
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Why it scores 36

Powerade Orange scores 36 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. High fructose corn syrup: An added sugar. Strong
  2. Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
  3. Sugars 5.8 g / 100 ml: Very high in sugar. Strong

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

Better sports and electrolyte drinks

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

The Receipt

Powerade Orange

START100

Ingredients

  • High fructose corn syrup
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3][4]
  • Sodium phosphate
    Strong EFSA (2019) set a group ADI for phosphates of 40 mg/kg body weight (as phosphorus) and noted that infants, toddlers and children may exceed it. [5]
  • Natural flavors
    Info "Natural flavor" is a legal category (21 CFR 101.22(a)(3)): flavor substances from spices, fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy or fermentation. [6][7]
  • Glycerol ester of rosin (ester gum)
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [7]
  • Calcium disodium EDTA
    Info An ingredient class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [7]
subtotal−28

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [7]
  • 4 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: emulsifier, flavoring, industrial sugar or starch hydrolysate and sequestrant. [7]
subtotal−22.5

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Sugars 5.8 g / 100 ml
    Strong Very high in sugar. [1]
  • Energy 22 kcal / 100 ml
    Info Energy-dense for its volume. [2]
subtotal−14
TOTAL 36Poor

100 − 64.5 = 35.5 → 36

Can’t score above 79. Contains high fructose corn syrup, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][4]

GTIN 00049000079364 · 2026-06-03

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

Medium confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy22 kcal
Fat0 g
Carbohydrates5.8 g
Sugars5.8 g
Added sugars5.8 g
Protein0 g
Salt0.2 g

Serving: 1 serving (360 ml)

Ingredients

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

płe rec | water, high fructose corn syrup, less than 0,5% of: 0% powerade, lue 6% phosphate, magnesium and calcium chlorides), gum 7% vellow 5 and 6, vitamins b3, b6, b12 (niacinamide, citric acid, electrolytes (salt, mono-potassium acacia, natural flavors, glycerol ester of rosin, o pyridoxine hydrochloride, cyanocobalamin), ascorbic acid (to protect taste), calcium dišodium 41% edta trutect color), produced for the coca-cola company atlanta, georgia 30313 ©2019 the coca-cola company, b, 15% |consumer information call 1-800-343-0341 sal, fai, irans m and iron chas 2018-01190 28 fl oz

More from Powerade

Sources

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. EFSA issues new advice on phosphates

    European Food Safety Authority · Jun 12, 2019 · Agency assessment

    “We estimated that dietary exposure to phosphates may exceed the new ADI for infants, toddlers and children with average consumption of phosphates in their diet.”

    efsa.europa.eu

  6. 21 CFR 101.22 Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives

    Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), U.S. Office of the Federal Register · Dec 19, 2016 · Law

    “whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”

    ecfr.gov

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

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  8. 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

  9. 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