Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Monster Energy Ultra Blue Hawaiian ultra-processed?

454 g Energy drinks Sold in the United States

Pack of Monster Energy Ultra Blue Hawaiian

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:

  • 28 ingredients
  • 10 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 acid (pH CONTROL), taurine, erythritol, sodium citrate, natural flavors, panax ginseng flavor, l-carnitine l-tartrate, potassium sorbate (preservative), caffeine, acesulfame potassium, sodium benzoate (preservative), sucralose, gum arabic, niacinamide (vitamin B3), salt, ester gum, d-calcium pantothenate (vitamin B5), inositol, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), blue 1, cyanocobalamin

Additives: E133 Brilliant blue FCF , E202 Potassium sorbate , E211 Sodium benzoate , E330 Citric acid , E331 Sodium citrates , E414 Acacia gum , E445 Glycerol esters of wood rosin , E950 Acesulfame k , E955 Sucralose , E968 Erythritol

As written on the pack

CARBONATED WATER, CITRIC ACID (pH CONTROL), TAURINE, ERYTHRITOL, SODIUM CITRATE, NATURAL FLAVORS, PANAX GINSENG FLAVOR, L-CARNITINE L-TARTRATE, POTASSIUM SORBATE (PRESERVATIVE), CAFFEINE, ACESULFAME POTASSIUM, SODIUM BENZOATE (PRESERVATIVE), SUCRALOSE, GUM ARABIC, NIACINAMIDE (VIT. B3), SALT, ESTER GUM, D-CALCIUM PANTOTHENATE (VIT. B5), INOSITOL, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE (VIT. B6), BLUE 1, CYANOCOBALAMIN (VIT. B12)

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.

  • E133 Brilliant blue FCF Brilliant blue FCF is a synthetic blue dye, listed in the US as FD&C Blue No. 1.
  • 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.
  • E445 Glycerol esters of wood rosin Emulsifiers are substances which make it possible to form or maintain a homogenous mixture of two or more immiscible phases such as oil and water in a foodstuff.
  • 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.
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  • Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.
3 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.
  • Salt Salt, added for taste and preservation.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 278 energy drinks

From least to most processed, this one ranks 225th. 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 0070847898245, last edited 4 October 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.