Energy drink

by Monster, Monster Energy Company

85
Caution
Safety Score (out of 100)

Contains 1 flagged ingredient

Energy drink by Monster, Monster Energy Company receives a safety score of 85/100 based on ingredient analysis using FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) data and CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings. The product contains 1 ingredient 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
0070847814047
Nutri-Score
e
NOVA Group
4 — Ultra-processed
Serving Size
12 OZA (355 ml)

What the Data Says About

Energy drink by Monster, Monster Energy Company carries a composite safety score of 85/100, 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 1 flagged ingredient 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, Energy drink 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 E 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 Energy drink
Metric Value Source
PlainFoodSafe Score 85/100 FDA SAFFA + CSPI composite
Flagged ingredients 1 CSPI/FDA review
NOVA processing group Group 4 OpenFoodFacts
Nutri-Score E OpenFoodFacts

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

Ingredient Safety Analysis

1
Carbonated And Nitrogenated Water
2
Sugar
Sweetener
Cut Back
3
Glucose
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 Flavors
6
Taurine
FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
Safe Listed
7
Sodium Citrate
8
Panax Ginseng Extract
9
Caffeine
FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
Certain People Should Avoid GRAS
10
Potassium Sorbate
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PH CONTROL AGENT
Safe GRAS
11
Preservative
12
Whey Protein Isolate
13
Milk
14
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
15
Niacinamide
FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
16
Vit. B3
17
Sucralose
NUTRITIVE SWEETENER
Avoid Approved
18
L-carnitine L-tartrate
19
Salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
20
D-glucuronolactone
21
Guarana Extract
22
Inositol
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
23
Pyridoxine Hydrochloride
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
24
Vit. B6
25
Riboflavin
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
26
Vit. B2
27
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
28
Blue #1
29
Cyanocobalamin
30
Vit. B12

Full Ingredient List

Carbonated and nitrogenated water, sugar, glucose, citric acid, natural flavors, taurine, sodium citrate, panax ginseng extract, caffeine, potassium sorbate (preservative), whey protein isolate (milk), sodium benzoate (preservative), niacinamide (vit. b3), sucralose, l-carnitine l-tartrate, salt, d-glucuronolactone, guarana extract, inositol, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vit. b6), riboflavin (vit. b2), maltodextrin, blue #1, cyanocobalamin (vit. b12).

Categories

Beverages Carbonated drinks Sodas

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