Monster Drink
Red flags
- −Red flag: High added sugar (11.1g per 100ml)
Green flags
- +Green flag: Low sodium
Ingredients, decoded
13 listed- Carbonated Water
- Sucrose
- Glucose
- Acidity Regulators (Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate)
- Flavors (Natural, Nature-Identical & Artificial (Mixed Fruit) Flavoring Substances)
- Taurine (400 mg/100 ml)
- Preservatives (Sorbic Acid, Benzoic Acid)
- CAFFEINE 30MG/100ML (300ppm)
- Colours ((Grapeskin Extract 163(Ii), Riboflavin 101(i))
- Sweetener (Sucralose)
- Vitamins (B3, B6, B12)
- D-Glucuronolactone
- Inositol (2 mg/100 ml)
Our take
CleanPlate reviewClassic energy drink with 11 g sugar per 100 ml
Monster Drink is a 350 ml can of carbonated water with sucrose and glucose, taurine, caffeine, sweeteners and B vitamins. The panel is printed per 100 ml, with 11 g sugar, all of it added.
CleanPlate scores it EC4. The E for nutrition is low: almost no credited protein, fibre or micronutrients per 100 ml. Added vitamins earn no credit in this product type. The C for ingredients reflects mostly refined or industrial ingredients (led by sucrose and glucose), with additives that cost points: sucralose, flavouring and riboflavin. The 4 for risk comes mainly from free sugar (11.1 g per 100 ml) and sodium (77.1 mg per 100 ml).
Claims vs reality
What the pack says, checked against the ingredient list and nutrition panel.
- On the packHolds
“TAURINE”
Taurine 400 mg per 100 ml is printed in the list.
- On the packHolds
“HIGH CAFFEINE (105 MG/350 ML)”
Caffeine is printed at 30 mg per 100 ml, 105 mg per can.
How EC4 breaks down
Each grade is scored on its own. Here are the label numbers behind each one, per 100 ml.
Very low nutrient density
- Protein
- 0 g
- Fibre
- Not declared
- Vitamins and minerals
- 4 declared
- Energy
- 48 kcal
Scored on protein, fibre and twelve vitamins and minerals, against the Codex and FSSAI "source" and "high" levels, per 100 g and per 100 kcal.
Mixed processing and additives
- Base
- Carbonated Water
- Sweeteners
- Glucose, Sweetener
- Additives
- 3
- Flagged
- None
- Artificial flavour or colour
- Yes
Scored on how processed the ingredients are, which additives are used and why, and whether the label keeps its promises.
High risk
- Added sugar
- 11.1 g
- Sodium
- 77.1 mg
Scored on free sugar, sodium, saturated fat and trans fat, each weighed by how strong the evidence of harm is.
A closer look
Does the label add up?
Carbonated water, sucrose, glucose, taurine, caffeine, flavours, two preservatives, colours, sucralose and B vitamins.
Per 100 ml: 47.7 kcal, 0 g fat, 11.1 g sugar of which 11.1 g added, 0 g protein, 77.1 mg sodium. The panel prints per 100 ml; the can is 350 ml, so the can has about 39 g of added sugar.
Ingredients to watch
- Added sugarConcern
About 11 g per 100 ml, all added (sucrose and glucose), about 39 g a can.
- CaffeineConcern
About 105 mg per can, not for children or pregnant women.
- SodiumWorth watching
About 77 mg per 100 ml.
- SweetenerFine
Sucralose is also listed, so this is not a sugar-only drink.
Common misconceptions
Myth: "Energy drinks are just sugar water"
Here the sugar is about 11 g per 100 ml, plus the caffeine, so it is both.
Myth: "The taurine gives the energy"
The energy is the caffeine; the taurine is a common additive with no proven extra effect here.
How often, and how
- Healthy adultsOccasionally
- ChildrenRarely
- Diabetes or prediabetesLimit
Smarter ways to eat it
Zero sugar version
The Monster Zero Sugar cans in this range carry no added sugar, a much lower risk grade.
Share one can
A can has about 39 g of added sugar, more than a day's free-sugar limit for many adults.
Common questions
Is Monster Drink healthy?
Monster Drink scores EC4 (Poor) on CleanPlate, which makes it best kept as a rare treat rather than a regular buy. The main concerns are: High added sugar (11.1g per 100ml). On the plus side: Low sodium.
What does the EC4 score mean?
The first letter (E) grades nutritional value: very low nutrient density. The second letter (C) grades ingredient and label integrity: mixed processing and additives. The number (4) grades risk nutrients (sugar, sodium, saturated fat): high risk.
Last reviewed October 17, 2026. Scored with the CleanPlate method from the published label.