Avoid

Mtn Dew Kickstart Energizing Limeade Flavored Sparkling Juice Beverage 16 Fluid Ounce Aluminum Can

by Mtn Dew

Open Food Facts label for barcode 0012000043017 · Mtn Dew · Beverages and beverages preparations. Screening numbers and flags live in the verdict band below. This hero only situates the source record.

Barcode 0012000043017 · Serving size 16 fl oz (473 ml) (480 ml)

The verdict

Mtn Dew Kickstart Energizing Limeade Flavored Sparkling Juice Beverage 16 Fluid Ounce Aluminum Can by Mtn Dew scores 45/100 in PlainFoodSafe's ingredient screening. We compared its 20 labeled ingredients with FDA SAFFA regulatory records and CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings; 3 ingredients are flagged for caution. The 20-component label is layered, beginning with Carbonated Water, High-fructose corn syrup, White Grape Juice Concentrate. Start with any flagged rows, then check the nutrition grade and serving size instead of treating one roll-up score as the whole decision. This is not a recall, allergy, medical, or dietary-safety determination.

45/100
Avoid safety score
3
Few flagged · of 20 analyzed
Group 4
Ultra-processed
D
Nutri-Score nutrition grade

Computed directly from OpenFoodFacts ingredient data cross-referenced with FDA SAFFA and CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings. See our methodology for the scoring formula.

Composite profile score

One verdict from three independent sources

35/100

Grade F

Ingredient Safety

45/100

FDA/CSPI flagged-ingredient screening

Processing Level

NOVA 4

Ultra-processed foods

Nutrition Grade

D

Nutri-Score front-of-pack nutrition grade

Weighted 50% ingredient safety / 25% processing level / 25% nutrition grade. A dimension with no data for this product (common: source coverage is partial) is dropped and its weight redistributes across the remaining dimensions, so missing data never silently lowers the score. See the full benchmark table.

00043017 · Open Food Facts · July 2026

Mtn Dew Kickstart Energizing Limeade Flavored Sparkling Juice Beverage 16 Fluid Ounce Aluminum Can label screening desk

SCORE-AVOID 45/100 FLAG-FEW 3 flagged LEN-LAYERED 20 ing. REG-MOST 65% reg. NOVA-G4 G4 ultra NUTRI-D Nutri-D RANK-SHORT Len top 15% LEAD-FLAG Acesulfame Potassium PHOTO-FINISH Zero lemon lime · ±0 BOOK-OFF …043017 · July 2026

13 of 20 parsed ingredients carry FDA SAFFA or CSPI coverage (lead: Acesulfame Potassium). Source sheet 00043017 · Open Food Facts · July 2026. The screening score and flag counts are in the verdict band above. This desk is the provenance stamp, not a second scorecard. Methodology · Read with nearest score peer: Zero lemon lime Gatorade · Nearest score peer is Zero lemon lime Gatorade at the same screening score.

Screening model notes

How Nutri-Score, NOVA, and list length read this record

The composite for this product falls in the lowest of the four bands. That is where labels land when registry-rated components drive the greater part of the deduction from the index. The band name is drawn from the framework's own scale and is distinct from the ratings the registries themselves assign to individual substances, which are shown per component below. A single heavily rated component and several lightly rated ones can produce the same band, so the component table is the more precise reading of the two.

This label falls in the fourth Nutri-Score band. The model arrives there when its penalty terms — energy density, sugars, saturated fat, sodium — carry more weight in the calculation than the fibre, protein and produce content it credits. The band covers a wide span of the points scale, so position within it is not visible from the letter alone. The grade reflects the declared nutrition panel and is unrelated to the additive ratings listed below, which come from different bodies applying different criteria.

A mid-length component list was parsed from this label. There are enough separate entries for the screen to match several independently, while each matched entry still carries visible weight in the resulting index. Lists of this size are the most common shape in the catalogue, which makes the composite here easier to place against comparable products than at either extreme.

Cross-brand screening score neighbourhood

1. Mtn Dew Kickstart Energizing Limeade Flavored Sparkling Juice Beverage 16 Fluid Ounce Aluminum Can: 45/100 · 100% of the leader · rank #11. Mtn Dew Kickstart Energiz…45/1002. Zero lemon lime Gatorade: 45/100 · 100% of the leader · rank #22. Zero lemon lime Gatorade45/1003. Zero Sugar Thirst Quencher Orange: 45/100 · 100% of the leader · rank #33. Zero Sugar Thirst Quenche…45/1004. Zero glacier freeze sports drink: 45/100 · 100% of the leader · rank #44. Zero glacier freeze sport…45/1005. Gatorade Zero Sugar Thirst Quencher Glacier Freeze: 45/100 · 100% of the leader · rank #55. Gatorade Zero Sugar Thirs…45/100
Nearest cross-brand screening scores for Mtn Dew Kickstart Energizing Limeade Flavored Sparkling Juice Beverage 16 Fluid Ounce Aluminum Can (45/100 on 20 parsed ingredients).
Chart values as text

Unit: PlainFoodSafe screening score out of 100. Data current as of July 2026.

Mtn Dew Kickstart Energizing Limeade Flavored Sparkling Juice Beverage 16 Fluid Ounce Aluminum Can
45/100
Zero lemon lime Gatorade
45/100
Zero Sugar Thirst Quencher Orange
45/100
Zero glacier freeze sports drink
45/100
Gatorade Zero Sugar Thirst Quencher Glacier Freeze
45/100

How It Compares to Its Category

Among the 32,623 products we've scored in the Beverages category, the average safety score is 90.5/100. Mtn Dew Kickstart Energizing Limeade Flavored Sparkling Juice Beverage 16 Fluid Ounce Aluminum Can scores 45.5 points below that category average (45/100 vs. 90.5/100), so it is a comparatively weaker pick for shoppers screening within that category specifically, rather than against the product catalog as a whole.

Ingredient-list length vs other Beverages and beverages preparations products

Mtn Dew Kickstart Energizing Limeade Flavored Sparkling Juice Beverage 16 Fluid Ounce Aluminum Can lists 20 ingredients on its label

20 85th percentile a longer ingredient list than 85% of the 4,874 products we track

0–2: 103 products (2%). Below this entry. 2–4: 484 products (10%). Below this entry. 4–6: 475 products (10%). Below this entry. 6–8: 550 products (11%). Below this entry. 8–10: 619 products (13%). Below this entry. 10–12: 595 products (12%). Below this entry. 12–14: 493 products (10%). Below this entry. 14–16: 381 products (8%). Below this entry. 16–18: 272 products (6%). Below this entry. 18–20: 193 products (4%). Below this entry. 20–22: 187 products (4%). This entry sits in this band. 22–24: 134 products (3%). Above this entry. 24–26: 95 products (2%). Above this entry. 26–28: 69 products (1%). Above this entry. 28–30: 56 products (1%). Above this entry. 30–32: 38 products (1%). Above this entry. 32–34: 16 products (0%). Above this entry. 34–36: 22 products (0%). Above this entry. 36–38: 5 products (0%). Above this entry. 38–40: 7 products (0%). Above this entry. 40–42: 80 products (2%). Above this entry. This product 0 42 every published Beverages and beverages preparations product, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more products. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Distribution as text

4,874 products, bucketed in bands of 2. This entry: 20 (85th percentile). Data current as of July 2026.

0–2
103 products (2%)
2–4
484 products (10%)
4–6
475 products (10%)
6–8
550 products (11%)
8–10
619 products (13%)
10–12
595 products (12%)
12–14
493 products (10%)
14–16
381 products (8%)
16–18
272 products (6%)
18–20
193 products (4%)
20–22
187 products (4%)
22–24
134 products (3%)
24–26
95 products (2%)
26–28
69 products (1%)
28–30
56 products (1%)
30–32
38 products (1%)
32–34
16 products (0%)
34–36
22 products (0%)
36–38
5 products (0%)
38–40
7 products (0%)
40 and above
80 products (2%)

Source Open Food Facts, product label ingredient lists · July 2026

Ingredient-list length is a descriptive property of the label, not a safety rating. A longer list is not automatically worse and a shorter one is not automatically better; the count is shown so the label can be placed against a comparable population. The comparison here runs against the 4,874 Beverages and beverages preparations products we publish with a parsed label, not against the whole catalogue, because list length varies far more between categories than within one.

Ingredient Safety Analysis

How the 45/100 score is built

Screening starts at 100 and subtracts severity-weighted FDA SAFFA / CSPI flags (3 flagged of 20 labeled). The floor is 0 when deductions exceed 100.

1
Carbonated Water
2
High-fructose corn syrup
Sweetener
Cut Back
3
White Grape Juice Concentrate
4
Citric Acid
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, ENZYME, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, LEAVENING AGENT, PH CONTROL AGENT, SEQUESTRANT, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT
Safe GRAS
5
Natural Flavor
6
Sodium Hexametaphosphate
FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
GRAS
7
Salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
8
Gum Arabic
9
Caffeine
FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
Certain People Should Avoid GRAS
10
Sodium Benzoate
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, FUMIGANT, PH CONTROL AGENT, SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT
Certain People Should Avoid GRAS
11
Preserves Freshness
12
Potassium Sorbate
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PH CONTROL AGENT
Safe GRAS
13
Potassium Citrate
EMULSIFIER OR EMULSIFIER SALT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PH CONTROL AGENT, SEQUESTRANT
GRAS
14
Potassium Chloride
ENZYME, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, MALTING OR FERMENTING AID, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PH CONTROL AGENT, PROCESSING AID, STABILIZER OR THICKENER
Certain People Should Avoid GRAS
15
Acesulfame Potassium
NON-NUTRITIVE SWEETENER
Avoid Approved
16
Sucralose
NUTRITIVE SWEETENER
Avoid Approved
17
Glycerol Ester Of Rosin
18
Calcium Disodium Edta
19
Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate
FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, PROCESSING AID, SURFACE-FINISHING AGENT
Safe Approved
20
Yellow 5
Avoid Approved (certified color)

Full Ingredient List

Carbonated Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, White Grape Juice Concentrate, Citric Acid, Natural Flavor, Sodium Hexametaphosphate (To Protect Flavor), Salt, Gum Arabic, Caffeine, Sodium Benzoate (Preserves Freshness), Potassium Sorbate (Preserves Freshness), Potassium Citrate, Potassium Chloride, Acesulfame Potassium, Sucralose, Glycerol Ester Of Rosin, Calcium Disodium Edta (To Protect Flavor), Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate, Yellow 5.

Categories

Beverages and beverages preparations Beverages Non-alcoholic beverages

Lower-score cross-brand comparables for Mtn Dew Kickstart Energizing Limeade Flavored Sparkling Juice Beverage 16 Fluid Ounce Aluminum Can

Neighbours outside Mtn Dew in the same lower screening band as Mtn Dew Kickstart Energizing Limeade Flavored Sparkling Juice Beverage 16 Fluid Ounce Aluminum Can (45/100). The 5 same-brand links above stay within Mtn Dew; these peers cross brands.

Follow the flagged-label evidence

Follow the flagged-label evidence

Acesulfame Potassium is the first flagged ingredient selected from Mtn Dew Kickstart Energizing Limeade Flavored Sparkling Juice Beverage 16 Fluid Ounce Aluminum Can's parsed label. Start with that ingredient’s source context, then compare the rest of this 20-ingredient record.

  • Inspect the FDA SAFFA and CSPI context attached to Acesulfame Potassium. Open Acesulfame Potassium
  • Compare Mtn Dew Kickstart Energizing Limeade Flavored Sparkling Juice Beverage 16 Fluid Ounce Aluminum Can's 3 flagged ingredients with a product from the same score neighbourhood. Compare labels
  • Check how caution flags contribute to the derived screening score before drawing a dietary conclusion. Read the method

This page describes published ingredient-list and source coverage. It is not dietary or medical advice.

Barcode 0012000043017: product data from Open Food Facts (July 2026). Screening from FDA SAFFA and CSPI Chemical Cuisine where attached. Figures are computed from those sources, not editor-typed. Methodology. Reference only, not dietary or medical advice.