Sodas
Monster Juice Monster Energy + Juice
16 oz
Score
- Dye with an EU warning label
- Contains synthetic dyes
- Ultra-processed
- High in sugar
- Contains non-nutritive sweeteners
- Contains added sugars
- Contains caffeine
Why it scores 7
Monster Juice Monster Energy + Juice scores 7 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 Fruit juice concentrate (sweetener): 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 energy drinks
-
Monster Energy Zero Ultra Monster · 12 oz No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 62 out of 100 , 55 points higher -
Monster Energy Zero Ultra Monster Energy · 19.2 fl oz No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 48 out of 100 , 41 points higher -
Monster Energy Zero Sugar Monster · 16 oz No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 46 out of 100 , 39 points higher -
Monster Energy Ultra Rosa Monster Energy Company · 16 fl oz No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 46 out of 100 , 39 points higher -
ENERGY Peach Mango V8 · 8 oz (237 mL) No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 44 out of 100 , 37 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Juice Monster Energy + Juice
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Fruit juice concentrate (sweetener) minus 20 points
- Corn syrup minus 10 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 6 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 7.5 points
Nutrition per 100 ml
- Sugars 11.7 g / 100 ml minus 14 points
- Energy 46 kcal / 100 ml minus 4 points
100 − 93.5 = 6.5 → 7
Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3][5][6][7][8][9][10]
Can’t score above 79. High in sugars (above the front-of-pack "high" level). [11]
Nutrition per 100 ml
| Energy | 46 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 0 g |
| Saturated fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 12.1 g |
| Sugars | 11.7 g |
| Added sugars | 9.7 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
| Salt | 0 g |
Serving: 1 can (473.176 g)
Ingredients
- CARBONATED WATER
- SUGAR (high concern)
- GUAVA PUREE
- WHITE GRAPE JUICE CONCENTRATE (high concern)
- MANGO PUREE
- GLUCOSE (high concern)
- APPLE JUICE CONCENTRATE (high concern)
- CITRIC ACID
- TAURINE
- PINEAPPLE SYRUP
- PINEAPPLE JUICE CONCENTRATE (high concern)
- POTASSIUM CITRATE
- NATURAL FLAVORS
- LEMON PULP
- APRICOT PUREE
- ORANGE JUICE CONCENTRATE
- PEACH PUREE
- SODIUM CITRATE
- POTASSIUM SORBATE (PRESERVATIVE)
- CAFFEINE
- NIACINAMIDE (VIT. B3)
- L-CARNITINE L-TARTRATE
- SUCRALOSE (moderate concern)
- XANTHAN GUM
- SODIUM ALGINATE
- PASSIONFRUIT JUICE CONCENTRATE
- INOSITOL
- GUM ARABIC
- SODIUM BENZOATE (PRESERVATIVE) (moderate concern)
- PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE (VIT. B6)
- RIBOFLAVIN (VIT. B2)
- ESTER GUM
- SALT
- RED #40 (high concern)
- CYANOCOBALAMIN (VIT. B12)
Label text, as published
CARBONATED WATER, SUGAR, GUAVA PUREE, WHITE GRAPE JUICE CONCENTRATE, MANGO PUREE, GLUCOSE, APPLE JUICE CONCENTRATE, CITRIC ACID, TAURINE, PINEAPPLE SYRUP, PINEAPPLE JUICE CONCENTRATE, POTASSIUM CITRATE, NATURAL FLAVORS, LEMON PULP, APRICOT PUREE, ORANGE JUICE CONCENTRATE, PEACH PUREE, SODIUM CITRATE, POTASSIUM SORBATE (PRESERVATIVE), CAFFEINE, NIACINAMIDE (VIT. B3), L-CARNITINE L-TARTRATE, SUCRALOSE, XANTHAN GUM, SODIUM ALGINATE, PASSIONFRUIT JUICE CONCENTRATE, INOSITOL, GUM ARABIC, SODIUM BENZOATE (PRESERVATIVE), PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE (VIT. B6), RIBOFLAVIN (VIT. B2), ESTER GUM, SALT, RED #40, CYANOCOBALAMIN (VIT. B12).
Allergens and diets
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
Packaging
Aluminium
Context only: no points in v1.
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
-
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
-
“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
-
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
-
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
-
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