Dehydrated beverages
Gatorade Thirst Quencher Powder Lemon Lime
1440 g
Score
- Dye with an EU warning label
- Contains synthetic dyes
- Ultra-processed
- High in sugar
- High in salt
- Contains added sugars
- Contains artificial flavors
Why it scores 5
Gatorade Thirst Quencher Powder Lemon Lime scores 5 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 Dextrose: An added sugar. Strong
- 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
-
Zero Sugar Thirst Quencher Powder Gatorade · 1.08 oz/30 g No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 54 out of 100 , 49 points higher -
Protein Powder Drink Mix Isopure · 16 oz No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 73 out of 100 , 68 points higher -
Sugar Free Lemon Lime Liquid I.V. No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 65 out of 100 , 60 points higher -
Low Carb Protein Dutch Chocolate Protein Powder Drink Mix Isopure · 1 lb/454 g No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 52 out of 100 , 47 points higher -
Lemon lime DripDrop · 4.5 g No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 57 out of 100 , 52 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Gatorade Thirst Quencher Powder Lemon Lime
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Dextrose minus 20 points
- Yellow 5 minus 10 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 5 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 6 points
Nutrition per 100 g
- Sugars 91.3 g / 100 g minus 14 points
- Salt 1.6 g / 100 g minus 5 points
- Energy 348 kcal / 100 g minus 2 points
100 − 95 = 5
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Can’t score above 79. High in sugars and salt (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [12]
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 348 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 0 g |
| Saturated fat | 0 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 95.7 g |
| Sugars | 91.3 g |
| Added sugars | 91.3 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
| Salt | 1.6 g |
Serving: 1 portion (23 g)
Ingredients
- Sugar (high concern)
- dextrose (high concern)
- citric acid
- salt
- sodium citrate
- monopotassium phosphate
- calcium silicate
- modified food starch
- natural and artificial flavor
- yellow 5 (high concern)
Label text, as published
Sugar, dextrose, citric acid, salt, sodium citrate, monopotassium phosphate, calcium silicate, modified food starch, natural and artificial flavor, yellow 5.
Allergens and diets
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
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More from Gatorade
Sources
-
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
-
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
-
“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