Sweetened beverages
Gatorade Zero Fruit Punch
28 oz
Score
- Dye with an EU warning label
- Contains synthetic dyes
- Ultra-processed
- Contains non-nutritive sweeteners
Why it scores 26
Gatorade Zero Fruit Punch scores 26 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:
- 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 20 points Caramel color: The FDA says classes III and IV, which can contain 4-MEI, are the most commonly used food color additives by volume. 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 sports and electrolyte drinks
-
Gatorade Zero Sugar Thirst Quencher Gatorade · 12 fl oz/355 mL No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 100 out of 100 , 74 points higher -
Zero Sugar Fruit Punch Bodyarmor No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 72 out of 100 , 46 points higher -
Bodyarmor Fruit Punch Zero Sugar Bodyarmor · 14 fl oz No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 72 out of 100 , 46 points higher -
Gatorade, Water Gatorade · 1 23.7 fl oz No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 98 out of 100 , 72 points higher -
POWERade ZERO Grape Powerade No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 64 out of 100 , 38 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Gatorade Zero Fruit Punch
Ingredients
- Red 40 minus 20 points
- Caramel color minus 20 points
- Sucralose minus 7.5 points
- Acesulfame potassium (Ace-K) minus 2.5 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 5 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 6 points
100 − 74 = 26
Can’t score above 79. Contains Red 40, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]
Nutrition per 100 ml
| Energy | 0 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 0.3 g |
| Sugars | 0 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
| Salt | 0.1 g |
Serving: 2.5 serving (828 ml)
Ingredients
- WATER
- CITRIC ACID
- SODIUM CITRATE
- SALT
- MONOPOTASSIUM PHOSPHATE
- MODIFIED FOOD STARCH
- NATURAL FLAVOR
- SUCRALOSE (moderate concern)
- GLYCEROL ESTER OF ROSIN
- RED 40 (high concern)
- ACESULFAME POTASSIUM (moderate concern)
- CARAMEL COLOR (high concern)
Label text, as published
WATER, CITRIC ACID, SODIUM CITRATE, SALT, MONOPOTASSIUM PHOSPHATE, MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, NATURAL FLAVOR, SUCRALOSE, GLYCEROL ESTER OF ROSIN, RED 40, ACESULFAME POTASSIUM, CARAMEL COLOR.
Allergens and diets
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
More sweetened beverages on GoodSwap
-
Sparkling Orange Celsius · 12 fl oz (355 mL) Ultra-processedContains non-nutritive sweetenersContains caffeineNo synthetic dyes Score 66 out of 100 Good -
Doubleshot Energy Energy Coffee Beverage Starbucks · 15 oz Ultra-processedContains non-nutritive sweetenersContains added sugarsContains emulsifiers studied for gut effects Score 12 out of 100 Bad -
Energy Drink Red Bull · 250 mL Ultra-processedContains added sugarsContains caffeineContains artificial flavors Score 20 out of 100 Poor -
Gatorade Zero Sugar Thirst Quencher Gatorade · 12 fl oz/355 mL Ultra-processedContains non-nutritive sweeteners Score 56 out of 100 Okay -
Hawaiian Punch Fruit Juicy Red Dr Pepper · 355 mL Dye with an EU warning labelContains synthetic dyesUltra-processedContains non-nutritive sweeteners Score 14 out of 100 Bad -
Ice sparkling water Wal-Mart Stores Inc. · 17 fl oz/503 mL Ultra-processedContains non-nutritive sweetenersContains caffeineNo synthetic dyes Score 53 out of 100 Okay
More from Gatorade
Sources
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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
-
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
-
Questions & Answers About 4-MEI
“Based on current science, the FDA has no reason to believe that there are any immediate or short-term health risks presented by 4-MEI at the levels expected in food.”
fda.gov
-
Agents Classified by the IARC Monographs, Volumes 1–142 (List of Classifications)
monographs.iarc.who.int
-
Proposition 65 List of Chemicals Known to the State to Cause Cancer or Reproductive Toxicity
“The date refers to the initial appearance of the chemical on the list.”
oehha.ca.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
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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
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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
-
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
-
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