Energy drinks
Monster Viking berry
16 fl 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
- Seed-oil free
Why it scores 8
Monster Viking berry scores 8 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 Corn syrup: 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
-
Berry Celsius No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 61 out of 100 , 53 points higher -
Cut Energy + Weight Loss Sparkling Berry Lemonade dietary supplement. Hydroxycut · 1can12 fl.oz./335 mL) No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 79 out of 100 , 71 points higher -
KILL IT (Wild Berry) Kill It · 12 fl oz (365 mL) No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 51 out of 100 , 43 points higher -
Sparkling Wild Berry Celsius · 12 fl oz (355 mL) No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 67 out of 100 , 59 points higher -
Sparkling Cherry Berry Lime Zero Sugar C4 · 12 oz No EU warning-label dyes · No synthetic dyes Score 55 out of 100 , 47 points higher
The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.
The Receipt
Viking berry
Ingredients
- Sugar minus 20 points
- Corn syrup minus 20 points
- Fruit juice concentrate (sweetener) minus 10 points
Processing
- Ultra-processed (NOVA 4) minus 18 points
- 5 kinds of ultra-processing markers minus 6 points
Nutrition per 100 ml
- Sugars 13.8 g / 100 ml minus 14 points
- Energy 56 kcal / 100 ml minus 4 points
100 − 92 = 8
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 | 56 kcal |
|---|---|
| Fat | 0 g |
| Saturated fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 14.6 g |
| Sugars | 13.8 g |
| Added sugars | 13.2 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
| Salt | 0.1 g |
Serving: 355ml
Ingredients
- Carbonated water
- sugar (high concern)
- glucose (high concern)
- apple juice concentrate (high concern)
- taurine
- citric acid
- cherry juice concentrate
- sodium citrate
- panax ginseng
- natural flavors
- malic acid
- potassium sorbate
- black currant juice concentrate (not recognized)
- caffeine
- blackberry juice concentrate
- maltodextrin
- bilberry juice concentrate
- macinamide (not recognized)
- medium chain triglycerides
- sucralose (moderate concern)
- modified corn starch
- salt
- inositol
- L-carnitine
- L-tartrate (not recognized)
- pyridoxine hydrochloride
- red 40 (high concern)
- riboflavin
- blue 1 (moderate concern)
- cyanocobalamin (B12)
Label text, as published
Carbonated water, sugar, glucose, apple juice concentrate, taurine, citric acid, cherry juice concentrate, sodium citrate, panax ginseng, natural flavors, malic acid, potassium sorbate, black currant juice concentrate, caffeine, blackberry juice concentrate, maltodextrin, bilberry juice concentrate, macinamide, medium chain triglycerides, sucralose, modified corn starch, salt, inositol, L-carnitine, L-tartrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, red 40, riboflavin, blue 1, cyanocobalamin (B12).
Allergens and diets
- Palm-oil-free
Always check the package: recipes change.
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