Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Alani Nu Energy ultra-processed?

12oz Energy drinks Sold in the United States

Pack of Alani Nu Energy

Yes, it's ultra-processed

  1. 1 Unprocessed
  2. 2 Kitchen staple
  3. 3 Processed
  4. 4 Ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

  • 30 ingredients
  • 7 additives
  • Nutri-Score C

Less processed energy drinks

Less processed isn't automatically healthier, so compare the labels for what matters to you, such as sugar or salt.

Ingredients

Ultra-processing Processing signs are highlighted

carbonated water, citric sodium citrate, acid, taurine, erythritol, natural flavor, l-theanine, caffeine, sucralose, panax ginseng root extract, sodium benzoate (preservative), potassium sorbate (preservative), l-carnitine tartrate, gum acacia, acesulfame potassium, niacinamide (vitamin b-3), inositol, glucuronolactone, sodium chloride, d-calcium pantothenate (vitamin b-5), guarana seed extract, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin b-6), biotin, cyanocobalamin (vitamin b-12)

Additives: E202 Potassium sorbate , E211 Sodium benzoate , E331 Sodium citrates , E414 Acacia gum , E950 Acesulfame k , E955 Sucralose , E968 Erythritol

As written on the pack

carbonated water, citric sodium citrate, acid, taurine, erythritol, natural flavor, l-theanine, caffeine, sucralose, panax ginseng root extract, sodium benzoate (preservative), potassium sorbate (preservative), l-carnitine tartrate, gum acacia, acesulfame potassium, niacinamide (vitamin b-3), inositol, glucuronolactone, sodium chloride, d-calcium pantothenate (vitamin b-5), guarana seed extract, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin b-6), biotin, cyanocobalamin (vitamin b-12),

What makes it ultra-processed

Cosmetic additives

Added to change how the food looks, feels or tastes, not to keep it safe. A hallmark of ultra-processed food.

  • E414 Acacia gum Gum arabic (acacia gum) is the hardened sap of acacia trees, used to stabilise flavour emulsions in soft drinks and to coat sweets.
  • E950 Acesulfame k Acesulfame K is a synthetic sweetener about 200 times sweeter than sugar, often combined with aspartame or sucralose.
  • E955 Sucralose Sucralose is a sweetener made by chlorinating sugar.
  • E968 Erythritol Humectants are substances which prevent foods from drying out by counteracting the effect of an atmosphere having a low degree of humidity, or promote the dissolution of a powder in an aqueous medium.
  • Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.
2 ingredients that would only make it processed

Kitchen staples like sugar, salt and oil. On their own they make a food processed, not ultra-processed.

  • E202 Potassium sorbate Preservatives are substances which prolong the shelf-life of foods by protecting them against deterioration caused by micro-organisms and/or which protect against growth of pathogenic micro-organisms.
  • Preservative Preservatives slow spoilage by microbes.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 278 energy drinks

From least to most processed, this one ranks 157th. 99% of the energy drinks here are ultra-processed.

Ranked by NOVA group, then by the number of ultra-processing signs, additives and ingredients. Our ordering, not part of NOVA.

All 278 energy drinks, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 0810030511052, last edited 21 May 2026), available under the Open Database License. If something is wrong or the recipe has changed, you can correct it there.
  • Photo: Open Food Facts contributors, CC BY-SA 3.0.
  • The NOVA group is an automated estimate from crowdsourced data: a missing or mistyped ingredient can change it.
  • NOVA measures processing, not nutrition. For nutrition, Open Food Facts gives this product a Nutri-Score of C (from A, best, to E).
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.