Is Monster Energy Ultra Watermelon ultra-processed?

Energy drink without sugar and with artificial sweeteners Sold in the United Kingdom

Yes, it's ultra-processed

1 Unprocessed
2 Kitchen staple
3 Processed
4 Ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

Flavouring
E129 Allura red
E950 Acesulfame k
E955 Sucralose
E968 Erythritol

21 ingredients
6 additives
Nutri-Score C

Less processed energy drinks

Virtue Sparkling Energy Water Berries Refresh Brands 12 ingredients · 1 additive NOVA group 1
Good energy Organic Guayusa Blood orange & Tangerine Good Earth 8 ingredients · no additives NOVA group 3
Orange Kiss Energy Drink Alani NU 5 ingredients · 1 additive NOVA group 1

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, erythritol (ultra-processing marker), taurine 0.4%, flavourings (ultra-processing marker), sodium citrates, panax ginseng root extract 0.08%, sorbic acid, benzoic acid, caffeine 0.03%, sucralose (ultra-processing marker), acesulfame k (ultra-processing marker), l-carnitine l-tartrate 0.015%, vitamins, vitamin B3, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, 812, inositol, e129 (ultra-processing marker), sweet potato

Additives: E129 Allura red , E200 Sorbic acid , E210 Benzoic acid , E950 Acesulfame k , E955 Sucralose , E968 Erythritol

As written on the pack

CARBONATED WATER, ACID (CITRIC ACID) FLAVOUR ENHANCER (ERYTHRITOL), TAURINE (0.4%), FLAVOURINGS, ACIDITY REGULATOR (SODIUM CITRATES) PANAX GINSENG ROOT EXTRACT (0.08%), PRESERVATIVES (SORBIC ACID, BENZOIC ACID), CAFFEINE (0.03%), SWEETENERS (SUCRALOSE, ACESULFAME K), L-CARNITINE L-TARTRATE (0.015%), VITAMINS (B3, B5, B6, 812), INOSITOL, COLOUR (E129), SWEET POTATO CONCENTRATE.

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).
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.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 60 energy drink without sugar and with artificial sweeteners

From least to most processed, this one ranks 30th. 100% of the energy drink without sugar and with artificial sweeteners 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 energy drink without sugar and with artificial sweeteners, least processed first

About this information

Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 5060896623573, last edited 31 August 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.