MonsterEnergy & Sports Drinks#18 of 23 in categoryRating 1.7/5

Monster Ultra Zero Sugar Drink

Red flags

No major red flags on the label.

Green flags

  • Green flag: No added sugar
  • Green flag: Low sodium

Ingredients, decoded

11 listed
  • Carbonated Water
  • Acidity Regulators (Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate)
  • Erythritol
  • Taurine (400 mg/100 ml)
  • Flavors (Natural, Nature-Identical & Artificial (Citrus Fruit) Flavoring Substances)
  • Preservatives (Sorbic Acid, Benzoic Acid)
  • Sweeteners (Sucralose, Acesulfame Potassium)
  • CAFFEINE 30MG/100ML(300ppm)
  • Vitamins (B5, B3, B6, B12)
  • D-Glucuronolactone
  • Inositol (2 mg/100 ml)
ConcernWorth watchingIn label order. Tap a highlighted one to learn more.

Nutrition per 100 ml
ENutritionDIngredients4Risk
Energy2.6 kcal
Protein0 g
Carbohydrates1.4 g
Total sugars0 g
Added sugars0 g
Total fat0 g
Cholesterol0 mg
Sodium78.9 mg
Vitamin B32.5 mg
Vitamin B52.7 mg
Vitamin B60.34 mg
Vitamin B120.13 µg
Highlighted values exceed FSSAI and UK FSA front of pack thresholds.

Our take

CleanPlate review

Sugar-free energy drink with 30 mg caffeine

Monster Ultra Zero Sugar Drink is a 350 ml can of carbonated water with erythritol, sucralose and acesulfame potassium, taurine, caffeine and B vitamins. The panel is printed per 100 ml and converted here from the pack.

CleanPlate scores it 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, with additives that cost points: sucralose, erythritol, acesulfame potassium and flavouring. The 4 for risk comes mainly from sodium (78.9 mg 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.

  • Product name

    “Zero Sugar”

    Holds

    The panel prints no sugar and no added sugar per 100 ml.

  • On the pack

    “TAURINE”

    Holds

    Taurine 400 mg per 100 ml is printed in the list.

  • On the pack

    “HIGH CAFFEINE (105 MG/350 ML)”

    Holds

    Caffeine 30 mg per 100 ml is printed, which is 105 mg per can.

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
E

Very low nutrient density

Protein
0 g
Fibre
Not declared
Vitamins and minerals
4 declared
Energy
3 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
D

Heavily processed or flagged substances

Base
Carbonated Water
Sweeteners
Sweeteners
Additives
2
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.

03 Risk nutrients1 to 5
4

High risk

Added sugar
0 g
Sodium
78.9 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, erythritol, taurine, caffeine, two sweeteners, two preservatives, citric acid and sodium citrate, flavours and B vitamins.

Per 100 ml: 2.57 kcal, 0 g fat, 0 g sugar of which 0 g added, 0 g protein, 78.9 mg sodium. The panel prints energy 2.6 kcal per 100 ml against 5 kcal from its carbohydrate and fibre, so the Atwater figure is used and the score is provisional.

Ingredients to watch

  • CaffeineConcern

    About 105 mg per can, a full cup of coffee in one 350 ml can, not for children or pregnant women.

  • SweetenersWorth watching

    Sucralose and acesulfame potassium are both listed, so the taste is not sugar-free by accident.

  • SodiumWorth watching

    About 79 mg per 100 ml, roughly 275 mg a can.

  • TaurineFine

    400 mg per 100 ml, a common energy-drink additive with no proven extra benefit at this dose.

Common misconceptions

Myth: "Zero sugar means zero calories"

The panel prints 2.6 kcal per 100 ml, close to nothing, but a can still carries a small amount.

Myth: "Energy drinks give you energy"

The energy comes from caffeine, which can make you jittery and disturb sleep if you drink it late.

How often, and how

  • Healthy adultsRarely
  • ChildrenRarely
  • Diabetes or prediabetesLimit strictly

Smarter ways to eat it

Pick a smaller size

A 250 ml can gives about 75 mg caffeine, which is still a lot, and the score does not change.

Water first

If the aim is hydration, water does the job without caffeine or sweetener.

Common questions

Is Monster Ultra Zero Sugar Drink healthy?

Monster Ultra Zero Sugar Drink scores ED4 (Very Poor) on CleanPlate, which makes it one of the weakest products we've rated and worth swapping out. We found no major red flags on its label. On the plus side: No added sugar; 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 17, 2026. Scored with the CleanPlate method from the published label.

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