Monster Energy Energy & Sports Drinks#5 of 7 in categoryRating 1.7/5

Monster Pipeline Punch Energy Drink - 350 ml

Red flags

Red flag: High added sugar (8.9g per 100ml)

Green flags

Green flag: Low sodium

Ingredients, decoded

12 listed

Carbonated Water
Sucrose
Glucose
Acidity Regulators (Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate)
Taurine (400 mg/ 100 ml)
Nature-Identical Mixed Fruit Flavour
Preservatives (Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate)
CAFFEINE 30 MG/ 100 ML (300 ppm)
Sweetener (Sucralose)
Vitamins (B3, B2, B6, B12)
Inositol (2 mg/ 100 ml)
Colours (Allura Red Ac, Tartrazine)

ConcernWorth watchingIn label order. Tap a highlighted one to learn more.

ED4

Nutrition per 100 ml

ENutritionDIngredients4Risk

VerdictVERY POOR

Energy36 kcal

Protein0 g

Carbohydrates8.9 g

Total sugars8.9 g

Added sugars8.9 g

Total fat0 g

Cholesterol0 mg

Sodium14.6 mg

Vitamin B20.83 mg

Vitamin B32.5 mg

Vitamin B60.34 mg

Vitamin B120.15 µg

Highlighted values exceed FSSAI and UK FSA front of pack thresholds.

Our take

CleanPlate review

A 31 g sugar can with two dyes

Monster Pipeline Punch is a carbonated energy drink of sugar and glucose with taurine (400 mg per 100 ml), caffeine (30 mg per 100 ml), inositol, B vitamins, sucralose, two preservatives and two colours (allura red AC and tartrazine). The can is 350 ml.

CleanPlate scores it [R]ED4. 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 D for ingredients reflects mostly refined or industrial ingredients (led by sucrose and glucose), with additives that cost points: sucralose, flavouring, tartrazine and allura red AC. A red flag (Southampton Six x2) cuts the score by 30%. The 4 for risk comes mainly from free sugar (8.86 g per 100 ml). The caffeine statement sets a floor of 4 on this axis.

Claims vs reality

What the pack says, checked against the ingredient list and nutrition panel.

On the pack
“Taurine + inositol + B vitamins”
Holds
Taurine 400 mg and inositol 2 mg per 100 ml are listed, and B2, B3, B6 and B12 are declared on the panel.
On the pack
“Contains non-caloric sweetener”
Holds
Sucralose is listed beside the sugar and glucose.

How ED4 breaks down

Each grade is scored on its own. Here are the label numbers behind each one, per 100 ml.

How we score →

01 Nutritional valueA to E

Very low nutrient density

Protein: 0 g
Fibre: Not declared
Vitamins and minerals: 4 declared
Energy: 36 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.

02 Ingredient & label integrityA to E

Heavily processed or flagged substances

Base: Carbonated Water
Sweeteners: Glucose, Sweetener
Additives: 5
Flagged: None

Scored on how processed the ingredients are, which additives are used and why, and whether the label keeps its promises.

03 Risk nutrients1 to 5

High risk

Added sugar: 8.9 g
Sodium: 14.6 mg

Scored on free sugar, sodium, saturated fat and trans fat, each weighed by how strong the evidence of harm is.

[R] Contains an ingredient on our red-flag list (such as a partially hydrogenated oil or a flagged synthetic dye), which cuts the ingredient grade.

A closer look

Does the label add up?

Carbonated water, sucrose, glucose, acidity regulators (citric acid, sodium citrate), taurine (400 mg per 100 ml), nature-identical fruit flavour, preservatives (potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate), caffeine (30 mg per 100 ml), sucralose, vitamins (B3, B2, B6, B12), inositol (2 mg per 100 ml) and colours (allura red AC, tartrazine).

Per 100 ml: 36 kcal, 0 g fat, 8.86 g sugar of which 8.86 g added, 0 g protein, 14.6 mg sodium.

Ingredients to watch

Free sugarConcern
8.86 g per 100 ml, 31 g in the 350 ml can.
Two Southampton Six dyesConcern
Allura red AC (129) and tartrazine (102) cut the ingredient score by 30%.
CaffeineWorth watching
30 mg per 100 ml, 105 mg per can; the pack says not for children or pregnant women.
B vitamins declaredFine
B2, B3, B6 and B12 are on the panel (B2 0.83 mg per 100 ml), though they do not lift the nutrition grade.

Common misconceptions

Myth: "Energy drinks give you real energy"

The 36 kcal per 100 ml come from sugar; the lift is mostly caffeine.

Myth: "Added B vitamins make it a health drink"

The vitamins are declared, but the nutrition grade stays E and the can still has 31 g of sugar and two dyes.

How often, and how

Healthy adultsRarely
ChildrenRarely
Diabetes or prediabetesLimit strictly

Smarter ways to eat it

Half a can

Share it or keep the rest chilled for later; the sugar halves too.

Water first

Drink a glass of water before it if you are thirsty rather than tired.

Common questions

Is Monster Pipeline Punch Energy Drink - 350 ml healthy?

Monster Pipeline Punch Energy Drink - 350 ml scores ED4 (Very Poor) on CleanPlate, which makes it one of the weakest products we've rated and worth swapping out. The main concerns are: High added sugar (8.9g per 100ml). On the plus side: Low sodium.

What does the ED4 score mean?

The first letter (E) grades nutritional value: very low nutrient density. The second letter (D) grades ingredient and label integrity: heavily processed or flagged substances. The number (4) grades risk nutrients (sugar, sodium, saturated fat): high risk.

Last reviewed October 11, 2026. Scored with the CleanPlate method from the published label.

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