Why is Monster Energy classified as ultra‑processed (NOVA 4) and what specific additives does it contain?

The drink is made from refined sugar, glucose syrup, artificial flavorings, caffeine, taurine and a suite of food‑grade additives such as the sweetener sucralose (E955), the colour anthocyanins (E163), preservatives sorbic acid (E200) and benzoic acid (E210), acidity regulators citric acid (E330) and sodium citrates (E331), as well as stabilisers like maltodextrin and glucuronolactone, all of which place it in the ultra‑processed NOVA 4 category.

How does the sugar and caffeine content in Monster Energy affect diabetic or hypertensive individuals?

The 8.4 g of sugar per 100 ml can cause rapid spikes in blood glucose, making the drink unsuitable for people managing diabetes, while the caffeine (approximately 0.3 g per 100 ml) may raise blood pressure and heart rate, posing a risk for those with hypertension or caffeine sensitivity.

Is Monster Energy suitable for vegan, keto or gluten‑free diets?

The ingredient list contains no animal‑derived foods or gluten‑containing grains, so it can be considered gluten‑free and potentially vegan, although the vegan status is uncertain due to some additives; however, the high sugar content and presence of carbohydrates make it unsuitable for a keto diet.

Monster Energy • 500 ml

Monster Energy

Beverages

Product Insights

Monster Energy is a 500 ml carbonated energy drink packaged in a recyclable aluminium can and marketed as an artificially sweetened beverage enriched with vitamins B2, B3, B6 and B12, plus taurine, L‑carnitine and ginseng extract. Nutritionally it provides 37 kcal per 100 ml, zero fat, low salt (0.21 g per 100 ml) but a high sugar level of 8.4 g, and it contains caffeine and several food additives such as sucralose, colorants and preservatives. The product carries a Nutri‑Score of E and is classified in NOVA group 4, indicating an ultra‑processed formulation with both energising ingredients and notable drawbacks like elevated sugar and multiple additives.

Nutrient Levels

Traffic light indicators

Fat

low

Saturated Fat

low

Sugars

high

Salt

moderate

Nutritional Values

Values per 100 ml

Energy Kcal37 kcal

Fat0 g

Saturated Fat0 g

Carbohydrates9.4 g

Sugars8.4 g

Comparative Analysis

Compared with the average soda, Monster Energy contains about 46% more sugar, while its fat and salt levels are roughly half and one‑fifth of the category averages respectively.

Ingredients

EAU GAZÉIFIÉE, SUCRE, SIROP DE GLUCOSE, ACIDIFIANT (ACIDE CITRIQUE), ARÔMES, TAURINE (0,4%), CORRECTEUR D'ACIDITÉ (CITRÁTES DE SODIUM), EXTRAIT DE RACINE DE GINSENG (0,08%), L-TARTRATE DE L-CARNITINE (0,04%), CONSERVATEURS (ACIDE SORBIQUE, ACIDE BENZOÏQUE), CAFÉINE (0,03%), COLORANT (ANTHOCYANES), VITAMINES [B3 (NICOTINAMIDE), B6 (CHLORHYDRATE DE PYRIDOXINE), B2 (RIBOFLAVINE), B12 (CYANOCOBALAMINE)], ÉDULCORANT (SUCRALOSE), CHLORURE DE SODIUM, D-GLUCURONOLACTONE, EXTRAIT DE GRAINE DE GUARANA (0,002%), INOSITOL, MALTODEXTRINE. E968, E950, vegano

84%

35%

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