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Monster Cold brew
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Drink

Monster Cold brew

13.5 fl oz

Good out of 100 Medium confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • Contains non-nutritive sweeteners
  • Contains caffeine
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Why it scores 67

Monster Cold brew scores 67 out of 100 (Good) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
  2. Sucralose: 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. Strong
  3. Caffeine: The FDA cites 400 mg a day as generally safe for most adults; EFSA advises no more than 200 mg a day in pregnancy. Strong

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

Better bottled coffee drinks

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

The Receipt

Cold brew

START100

Ingredients

  • 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. [1][2][3][4][5]
  • Caffeine
    Strong The FDA cites 400 mg a day as generally safe for most adults; EFSA advises no more than 200 mg a day in pregnancy. [6][7]
  • Maltodextrin
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [8]
subtotal−12.5

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [8]
  • 2 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: industrial sugar or starch hydrolysate and non-nutritive sweetener. [8]
subtotal−19.5

Nutrition per 100 g

  • Energy 3 kcal / 100 ml
    Info Energy-dense for its volume. [5]
subtotal−1
TOTAL 67Good

100 − 33 = 67

GTIN 00070847039136 · 2023-12-12

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

Medium confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy3 kcal
Fat0 g
Saturated fat0 g
Carbohydrates0.8 g
Sugars0 g
Added sugars0 g
Protein0 g
Salt0.2 g

Serving: 1 can (400 ml)

Ingredients

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

NITRO-INFUSED COLD BREWED COFFEE (NITROGENATED WATER, COFFEE), TAURINE, SODIUM CITRATE, PANAX GINSENG FLAVOR NATURAL FLAVORS, ASCORBIC ACID (VIT. C), CAFFEINE, MALTODEXTRIN NIACINAMIDE, INOSITOL, L-CARNITINE L-TARTRATE, SUCRALOSE, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE (VIT. B6), RIBOFLAVIN (VIT. B2).

Allergens and diets

  • Not vegan
  • Vegetarian
  • Palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

More from Monster

Sources

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine is Too Much?

    U.S. Food and Drug Administration · Regulator

    “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

  7. Caffeine (EFSA topic page; Scientific Opinion on the safety of caffeine, 2015)

    European Food Safety Authority · May 27, 2015 · Agency assessment

    “Caffeine intakes from all sources up to 200mg per day consumed throughout the day do not raise safety concerns for the foetus.”

    efsa.europa.eu

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

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex III point 4.1 (beverages with high caffeine content)

    European Union (Official Journal) · Oct 25, 2011 · Law

    “‘High caffeine content. Not recommended for children or pregnant or breast-feeding women’”

    eur-lex.europa.eu