monster

by Monster Energy

35
Avoid
Safety Score (out of 100)

Contains 3 flagged ingredients

monster by Monster Energy receives a safety score of 35/100 based on ingredient analysis using FDA Substances Added to Food (SAFFA) data and CSPI Chemical Cuisine ratings. The product contains 3 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
84113191
NOVA Group
4 — Ultra-processed

What the Data Says About

monster by Monster Energy carries a composite safety score of 35/100, which we classify as "Avoid" 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 3 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 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.

Safety Profile at a Glance

Composite safety metrics for monster
Metric Value Source
PlainFoodSafe Score 35/100 FDA SAFFA + CSPI composite
Flagged ingredients 3 CSPI/FDA review
NOVA processing group Group 4 OpenFoodFacts
Nutri-Score Not available OpenFoodFacts

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

Ingredient Safety Analysis

1
Carbonated Water
2
Sugar
Sweetener
Cut Back
3
Glucose
4
Orange Juice Concentrate
5
Organic Apple Juice Concentrate
6
Taurine
FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
Safe Listed
7
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
8
Raspberry Juice Concentrate
9
Guava Puree Cherry Juice Concentrate
10
Sodium Citrate
11
Potassium Sorbate
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENT, ANTIOXIDANT, COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT, PH CONTROL AGENT
Safe GRAS
12
Preservative
13
Panax Ginseng Flavor
14
Caffeine
FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT
Certain People Should Avoid GRAS
15
&Quot
16
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
17
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
18
Natural Flavors
19
Niacinamide
FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
20
Vit
21
B3
22
Sucralose
NUTRITIVE SWEETENER
Avoid Approved
23
Pineapple Juice Concentrate
24
Organic Passionfruit Juice Concentrate
25
Gun Arabic
26
Red 40
Avoid Approved (certified color)
27
Salt
Flavoring
Cut Back
28
Ester Gum
29
Inositol
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
30
L-carnitine L-tartrate
31
Pyridoxine Hydrochloride
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
32
B6
33
Riboflavin
COLOR OR COLORING ADJUNCT, FLAVOR ENHANCER, FLAVORING AGENT OR ADJUVANT, NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENT
GRAS
34
B2
35
Blue 1
Caution Approved (certified color)
36
Cyanocobalamin
37
B12
38
1 Monster Way
39
Corona
40
Ca 92879 U
41
©2018 Monster Energy Company Monster Energy Blend: Glucose
42
People Sensitive To Caffeine Pregnant Women Or Women Who Are Nursing 08
43
10 Wy Sivan - 15 S

Full Ingredient List

carbonated water, sugar, glucose, orange juice concentrate, apple juice concentrate, taurine, citric acid, raspberry juice concentrate, guava puree cherry juice concentrate, sodium citrate, potassium sorbate (preservative), panax ginseng flavor, caffeine," maltodextrin, sodium benzoate (preservative), natural flavors, niacinamide (vit,b3), sucralose, pineapple juice concentrate, passionfruit juice concentrate, gun arabic, red 40, salt, ester gum, inositol, l-carnitine l-tartrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vit, b6), riboflavin (vit, b2), blue 1, cyanocobalamin (vit, b12), manufactured for monster energy company, 1 monster way, corona, ca 92879 u,s,a, ©2018 monster energy company monster energy blend: glucose, taurine, caffeine, maltodextrin, inositol, l-carnitine caffeine from all sources: 160mg per can consume responsibly: not recommended for children, people sensitive to caffeine pregnant women or women who are nursing 08,10 wy sivan - 15 s

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