Monster energy, iced tea

by Monster, Monster Energy Company

70
Caution
Safety Score (out of 100)

Contains 2 flagged ingredients

Monster energy, iced tea by Monster, Monster Energy Company receives a safety score of 70/100 based on ingredient analysis using FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) data and CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings. The product contains 2 ingredients that have been flagged for potential safety concerns by regulatory or consumer advocacy databases. Product label data is sourced from the OpenFoodFacts collaborative database. See the full ingredient breakdown and safety assessment below.

Barcode
0070847006121
Nutri-Score
c
NOVA Group
4 — Ultra-processed
Serving Size
8 OZA (240 ml)

What the Data Says About

Monster energy, iced tea by Monster, Monster Energy Company carries a composite safety score of 70/100, which we classify as "Caution" on our four-tier shelf-label framework. The score is computed by mapping each labeled ingredient against FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) regulatory status and CSPI Chemical Cuisine classifications, then penalizing the overall product for each additive rated as caution-or-worse. Product data originates from the OpenFoodFacts collaborative catalog; safety annotations come from federal regulators and the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

Our scan identified 2 flagged ingredients in this product — components that at least one official source has classified as requiring caution, targeted avoidance, or further evaluation. Flagged ingredients are the items most likely to surface in FDA inspection findings, state-level ingredient bans, or outbreak-related recall notices, so the per-ingredient breakdown below is the most useful lens for anyone screening this product for a specific dietary concern.

On the NOVA processing scale, Monster energy, iced tea is classified as Group 4 (Ultra-processed). NOVA measures industrial processing intensity rather than ingredient-level safety, so it complements the SAFFA and CSPI ratings: a product can be clean on additive flags but heavily processed, or lightly processed but carry individually flagged ingredients. Combining both lenses gives a fuller picture than either alone. The Nutri-Score grade of C reflects nutritional balance — calories, saturated fat, sugar, sodium versus fiber, protein, and produce content — which again is a distinct dimension from additive safety and worth weighing alongside the scores above.

Safety Profile at a Glance

Composite safety metrics for Monster energy, iced tea
Metric Value Source
PlainFoodSafe Score 70/100 FDA SAFFA + CSPI composite
Flagged ingredients 2 CSPI/FDA review
NOVA processing group Group 4 OpenFoodFacts
Nutri-Score C OpenFoodFacts

Composite metric derived from FDA SAFFA, CSPI Chemical Cuisine, OpenFoodFacts. See methodology.

Ingredient Safety Analysis

1
Brewed Tea
2
Filtered Water
3
Black & Green Tea Powders
4
Glucose
5
Pineapple Juice Concentrate
6
Taurine
FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
Safe Listed
7
Organic Apple Juice Concentrate
8
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
9
Sodium Citrate
10
Panax Ginseng Extract
11
Natural Flavors
12
Phosphoric Acid
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, FUMIGANT, MALTING OR FERMENTING AID, NON-NUTRITIVE SWEETENER, PH CONTROL AGENT, SEQUESTRANT
Cut Back GRAS
13
Magnesium Lactate
14
Calcium Lactate Pentahydrate
15
Maltodextrin
ANTICAKING AGENT OR FREE-FLOW AGENT, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, HUMECTANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, NUTRITIVE SWEETENER, SOLVENT OR VEHICLE, STABILIZER OR THICKENER, SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENT, TEXTURIZER
Safe GRAS
16
Monopotassium Phosphate
17
Caffeine
FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
Certain People Should Avoid GRAS
18
Ascorbic Acid
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, DOUGH STRENGTHENER, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PH CONTROL AGENT, SEQUESTRANT, STABILIZER OR THICKENER
GRAS
19
Vit. C
20
Acesulfame Potassium
NON-NUTRITIVE SWEETENER
Avoid Approved
21
Sucralose
NUTRITIVE SWEETENER
Avoid Approved
22
Calcium D-pantothenate
23
Vit. B5
24
Niacinamide
FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
25
Vit. B3
26
Organic Coconut Water
27
Salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
28
Gum Arabic
29
Guarana Extract
30
Quercetin Dihydrate
31
Inositol
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
32
D-glucuronolactone
33
L-carnitine L-tartrate
34
Pyridoxine Hydrochloride
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
35
Vit. B6
36
Ester Gum
37
Goji Berry Extract
38
Acai Extract
39
Cyanocobalamin
40
Vit. B12

Full Ingredient List

Brewed tea (filtered water, black & green tea powders), glucose, pineapple juice concentrate, taurine, apple juice concentrate, citric acid, sodium citrate, panax ginseng extract, natural flavors, phosphoric acid, magnesium lactate, calcium lactate pentahydrate, maltodextrin, monopotassium phosphate, caffeine, ascorbic acid (vit. c), acesulfame potassium, sucralose, calcium d-pantothenate (vit. b5), niacinamide (vit. b3), concentrated coconut water, salt, gum arabic, guarana extract, quercetin dihydrate, inositol, d-glucuronolactone, l-carnitine l-tartrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vit. b6), ester gum, goji berry extract, acai extract, cyanocobalamin (vit. b12).

Categories

Beverages Carbonated drinks Sodas Tea-based beverages Iced teas

Data Sources

Data as of 2025. Source: OpenFoodFacts, FDA SAFFA, CSPI Chemical Cuisine.

Product data from OpenFoodFacts (ODbL). Ingredient safety ratings from FDA SAFFA and CSPI Chemical Cuisine. See our methodology for details.

This information is for reference only and does not constitute dietary or medical advice.

Related

Data sourced from official FDA, USDA, and CDC food-safety databases. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainFoodSafe Editorial