Is Monster Energy Ultra Gold ultra-processed?
Yes, it's ultra-processed
- 1 Unprocessed
- 2 Kitchen staple
- 3 Processed
- 4 Ultra-processed
Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:
- 28 ingredients
- 9 additives
- Nutri-Score C
Less processed energy drinks
Ingredients
Ultra-processing Processing
carbonated water, flavour enhancer (ultra-processing marker) (erythritol (ultra-processing marker)), acid (citric acid), taurine 0.4%, flavourings (ultra-processing marker), acidity regulator (sodium citrates), panax ginseng root extract 0.08%, preservatives (processing marker) (potassium sorbate (processing marker), sodium benzoate), caffeine 0.03%, sweeteners (ultra-processing marker) (sucrálose (ultra-processing marker), acesulfame k (ultra-processing marker)), l-carnitine l-tartrate 0.015%, vitamins, vitamin B3, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, sodium chloride, inositol, colours (ultra-processing marker) (e102 (ultra-processing marker), e129 (ultra-processing marker))
Additives: E102 Tartrazine , E129 Allura red , E202 Potassium sorbate , E211 Sodium benzoate , E330 Citric acid , E331 Sodium citrates , E950 Acesulfame k , E955 Sucralose , E968 Erythritol
As written on the pack
CARBONATED WATER, FLAVOUR ENHANCER (ERYTHRITOL), ACID (CITRIC ACID), TAURINE (0.4%), FLAVOURINGS, ACIDITY REGULATOR (SODIUM CITRATES), PANAX GINSENG ROOT EXTRACT (0.08%), PRESERVATIVES (POTASSIUM SORBATE, SODIUM BENZOATE), CAFFEINE (0.03%), SWEETENERS (SUCRÁLOSE, ACESULFAME K), L-CARNITINE L-TARTRATE (0.015%), VITAMINS (B3, B5, B6, B12), SODIUM CHLORIDE, INOSITOL, COLOURS (E102, E129).
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.
- E102 Tartrazine Tartrazine is a synthetic yellow azo dye (FD&C Yellow No. 5 in the US).
- E129 Allura red Allura red AC is a synthetic red azo dye (FD&C Red No. 40 in the US).
- 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.
- Colour Colours are added to restore colour lost in processing or to make a product look more appealing.
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- Flavour enhancer Flavour enhancers such as monosodium glutamate (E621) strengthen savoury taste without adding a flavour of their own.
- Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.
- Sweetener Sweeteners give sweetness with few or no calories, many at hundreds of times the strength of sugar.
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.
Among 278 energy drinks
From least to most processed, this one ranks 263rd. 99% of the energy drinks here are ultra-processed.
About this information
- Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 5060896623832, last edited 27 March 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.