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Red Bull Energy Drink
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Sodas

Red Bull Energy Drink

12 fl oz

Poor out of 100 Medium confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • Contains added sugars
  • Contains caffeine
  • Contains artificial flavors
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Why it scores 20

Red Bull Energy Drink scores 20 out of 100 (Poor) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Sugar: An added sugar. Strong
  2. Corn syrup: An added sugar. Strong
  3. 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

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

The Receipt

Energy Drink

START100

Ingredients

  • Sugar
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Corn syrup
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • 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. [4][5]
  • Natural and artificial flavors
    Strong The label does not disclose which flavoring substances are used. [6][2]
subtotal−44

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [7]
  • 2 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: flavoring and industrial sugar or starch hydrolysate. [7]
subtotal−19.5

Nutrition per 100 ml

  • Sugars 10.8 g / 100 ml
    Strong Very high in sugar. [1]
  • Energy 44 kcal / 100 ml
    Info Energy-dense for its volume. [2]
subtotal−17
TOTAL 20Poor

100 − 80.5 = 19.5 → 20

Can’t score above 79. Contains sugar, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]

GTIN 00611269818994 · 2026-05-31

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

Medium confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 ml

Energy44 kcal
Fat0 g
Carbohydrates11.1 g
Sugars10.8 g
Added sugars10.7 g
Protein0.3 g
Salt0.1 g

Serving: 1 can (12 fl oz)

Ingredients

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

CARBONATED WATER, SUCROSE, GLUCOSE, CITRIC ACID, TAURINE, SODIUM BICARBONATE, MAGNESIUM CARBONATE, CAFFEINE, NIACINAMIDE, CALCIUM PANTOTHENATE, PYRIDOXINE HCL, VITAMIN B12, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, COLORS.

Allergens and diets

  • Palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

Healthiest sodas in the US

More from Red Bull

Sources

  1. Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children

    World Health Organization · Mar 4, 2015 · Agency assessment

    “In both adults and children, WHO recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake”

    who.int

  2. 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

  3. Added and free sugars should be as low as possible

    European Food Safety Authority · Feb 28, 2022 · Agency assessment

    “Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”

    efsa.europa.eu

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 21 CFR 101.22 Foods; labeling of spices, flavorings, colorings and chemical preservatives

    Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), U.S. Office of the Federal Register · Dec 19, 2016 · Law

    “whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”

    ecfr.gov

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

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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