Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Refresco drinks Emerge ultra-processed?

250ml Energy drinks Sold in the United Kingdom

Pack of Refresco drinks Emerge

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:

  • 20 ingredients
  • 3 additives

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, Sugar, Acid, Citric Favourings, Caffeine 0.03%, Colours (Ammonia Carame od Taurine, Acidity Regulator (Sodium Citrates Rooflavins), Preservative (Sodium Benzoate), Sweeteres Sucralose, Acesulfame K), Vitamins, Niacin, Pantothenic od vitamins, vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Inositol, NAL INFORMATION es Per 100ml 77kJ

Additives: E211 Sodium benzoate , E950 Acesulfame k , E955 Sucralose

Also detected, but not matched to one ingredient: E955 Sucralose.

As written on the pack

Carbonated Water, Sugar, Acid (Citric Favourings, Caffeine (0.03%), Colours (Ammonia Carame od Taurine (0.3%), Acidity Regulator (Sodium Citrates Rooflavins), Preservative (Sodium Benzoate), Sweeteres Sucralose, Acesulfame K), Vitamins (Niacin, Pantothenic od Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12), Inositol. NAL INFORMATION es Per 100ml 77kJ/

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.

  • 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.
  • Colour Colours are added to restore colour lost in processing or to make a product look more appealing.
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.

  • Preservative Preservatives slow spoilage by microbes.
  • Sugar Sugar refined from sugar cane or beet.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 278 energy drinks

From least to most processed, this one ranks 71st. 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 5000177449638, 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.
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.