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Nestlé Vanilla Caramel Zero Sugar Coffee Mate
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Creamer

Nestlé Vanilla Caramel Zero Sugar Coffee Mate

289.1

Poor out of 100 High confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • Contains non-nutritive sweeteners
  • Contains added sugars
  • Contains emulsifiers studied for gut effects
  • Contains artificial flavors
  • Seed-oil free
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Why it scores 33

Nestlé Vanilla Caramel Zero Sugar Coffee Mate scores 33 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Corn syrup solids: An added sugar. Strong
  2. Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
  3. 8 kinds of ultra-processing markers: Industrial additive classes found: anti-caking agent, emulsifier, flavor enhancer, flavoring, industrial fat, industrial protein, industrial sugar or starch hydrolysate and non-nutritive sweetener. Emerging

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

Better coffee creamers and half and half

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

The Receipt

Vanilla Caramel Zero Sugar Coffee Mate

START100

Ingredients

  • Corn syrup solids
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Sucralose
    Strong In a 2022 randomized study, sucralose and saccharin altered the gut microbiome and impaired glucose responses in some people; a 2023 lab study raised questions about its by-product sucralose-6-acetate. [4][5][6][7][2]
  • Acesulfame potassium (Ace-K)
    Strong In the NutriNet-Santé cohort, acesulfame-K intake was associated with higher cancer risk; cause and effect is not established. [8][9][7][2]
  • Hydrogenated oil
    Info An ingredient typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [10]
  • Natural and artificial flavors
    Strong The label does not disclose which flavoring substances are used. [11][2]
  • Caseinate
    Info An ingredient typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [10]
  • Mono- and diglycerides
    Strong In the NutriNet-Santé cohort, higher intakes of mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids (E471 and E472) were associated with higher cardiovascular risk; cause and effect is not established. [12][13][10]
  • Potassium 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. [14]
  • Sodium aluminosilicate
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [10]
  • Yeast extract
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [10]
subtotal−41.5

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [10]
  • 8 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: anti-caking agent, emulsifier, flavor enhancer, flavoring, industrial fat, industrial protein, industrial sugar or starch hydrolysate and non-nutritive sweetener. [10]
subtotal−26
TOTAL 33Poor

100 − 67.5 = 32.5 → 33

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

GTIN 00050000334803 · 2026-08-07

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

High confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy15 kcal
Fat1 g
Saturated fat1 g
Trans fat0 g
Carbohydrates40 g
Sugars0 g
Added sugars0 g
Fiber0 g
Protein0 g
Salt0 g

Serving: 1 Tbsp (5 g)

Recipe changed

  • Partially hydrogenated oils removed

Compared with an older list (Open Food Facts). The current list is from April 2026.

Ingredients

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

Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil ( Coconut and / or Palm Kernel and / or Soybean), Corn Syrup Solids ( Adds a Trivial Amount of Sugar), Natural and Artificial Flavor, Sodium Caseinate (a Milk Derivative) ( Not a Source of Lactose), and Less than 2% of Mono- and Diglycerides, Dipotassium Phosphate, Salt, Sodium Aluminosilicate, Sucralose, Acesulfame Potassium ( Non- Nutritive Sweetener), Yeast Extract, Contains: a Milk Derivative.CONTAINS A MILK DERIVATIVE.

Allergens and diets

Contains: Milk, Soy

  • Not vegan
  • Not palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

Packaging

Plastic

Context only: no points in v1.

Healthiest creamer in the US

More from Nestlé

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. Personalized microbiome-driven effects of non-nutritive sweeteners on human glucose tolerance

    Cell · September 2022 · Peer-reviewed

    “As groups, each administered NNS distinctly altered stool and oral microbiome and plasma metabolome, whereas saccharin and sucralose significantly impaired glycemic responses.”

    doi.org

  5. Toxicological and pharmacokinetic properties of sucralose-6-acetate and its parent sucralose: in vitro screening assays

    Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B · Aug 18, 2023 · Peer-reviewed

    “Sucralose-6-acetate significantly increased the expression of genes associated with inflammation, oxidative stress, and cancer”

    doi.org

  6. EFSA finds sucralose safe when used as currently authorised; cannot confirm safety of extending its use

    European Food Safety Authority · Feb 17, 2026 · Agency assessment

    “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

  7. WHO advises not to use non-sugar sweeteners for weight control in newly released guideline

    World Health Organization · May 15, 2023 · Agency assessment

    “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

  8. Artificial sweeteners and cancer risk: Results from the NutriNet-Santé population-based cohort study

    PLOS Medicine · Mar 24, 2022 · Peer-reviewed

    “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

  9. Re-evaluation of acesulfame K (E 950) as food additive (plain language summary)

    European Food Safety Authority · Apr 30, 2025 · Agency assessment

    “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

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

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  11. 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

  12. Food additive emulsifiers and risk of cardiovascular disease in the NutriNet-Santé cohort: prospective cohort study

    BMJ · Sep 6, 2023 · Peer-reviewed

    “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

  13. Re-evaluation of mono- and di-glycerides of fatty acids (E 471) as food additives

    European Food Safety Authority · Nov 10, 2017 · Agency assessment

    “The available studies did not raise any concern with regard to genotoxicity.”

    doi.org

  14. 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

  15. 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

  16. 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

  17. Dietary emulsifiers impact the mouse gut microbiota promoting colitis and metabolic syndrome

    Nature · Mar 5, 2015 · Peer-reviewed

    “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

  18. Randomized Controlled-Feeding Study of Dietary Emulsifier Carboxymethylcellulose Reveals Detrimental Impacts on the Gut Microbiota and Metabolome

    Gastroenterology · March 2022 · Peer-reviewed

    “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