Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Crystal Light Fruit Punch Drink Mix ultra-processed?

10ct 0.09 OZ (2.55g) Packets / 0.9 OZ (25g) Dehydrated beverages Sold in the United States

Pack of Crystal Light Fruit Punch Drink Mix

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:

  • 17 ingredients
  • 5 additives

Less processed dehydrated beverages

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

citric acid, maltodextrin, calcium phosphate, aspartamet, modified cornstarch, contains less than 2% of natural, artificial flavor, potassium citrate, acesulfame potassium, salt, artificial color, red 40, blue 1, bha (to help protect flavor), † phenylketonurics (contains phenylalanine)

Additives: E129 Allura red , E133 Brilliant blue FCF , E320 Butylated hydroxyanisole (bha) , E330 Citric acid , E950 Acesulfame k

As written on the pack

citric acid, maltodextrin, calcium phosphate, aspartamet, modified cornstarch, contains less than 2% of natural and artificial flavor, potassium citrate, acesulfame potassium, salt, artificial color, red 40, blue 1, bha (to help protect flavor). † phenylketonurics: contains phenylalanine

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.

  • E129 Allura red Allura red AC is a synthetic red azo dye (FD&C Red No. 40 in the US).
  • E133 Brilliant blue FCF Brilliant blue FCF is a synthetic blue dye, listed in the US as FD&C Blue No. 1.
  • E950 Acesulfame k Acesulfame K is a synthetic sweetener about 200 times sweeter than sugar, often combined with aspartame or sucralose.
  • Colour Colours are added to restore colour lost in processing or to make a product look more appealing.
  • Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.
  • Modified starch Modified starch is starch altered physically, with enzymes or chemically, so that it thickens, gels or survives freezing and heating better than ordinary starch.

Substances rarely used in home kitchens

Refined or extracted in factories, such as syrups made from starch or isolated proteins. The other hallmark of ultra-processed food.

  • Maltodextrin Maltodextrin is a white powder made by partly breaking down starch.
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.

  • Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.
  • Starch Starch extracted from cereals or potatoes, used to thicken.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 60 dehydrated beverages

From least to most processed, this one ranks 56th. 88% of the dehydrated beverages 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 60 dehydrated beverages, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 0043000011171, last edited 28 April 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.
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.