Powerade Zero, Zero Calorie Sports Drink

Why Does This Score Ultra-Processed?

In our analysis, Powerade Zero, Zero Calorie Sports Drink scores Ultra-Processed. That classification is shaped by ingredients commonly associated with ultra-processed foods:

• Artificial Sweeteners (Sucralose): Synthetic sweeteners are definitive UPF markers.
• Artificial Colors (Blue 1): Synthetic colors are definitive UPF markers.
• Natural Flavors (Natural Flavors): Despite being natural, these are highly processed extracts.

Within Sports & Energy Drinks, this product is more processed than about 62% of the 922 products we've analyzed.

Processing classification reflects ingredient and additive analysis, not a judgment of any product's safety, quality, or healthfulness.

What These Ingredients Tell Us

We group Powerade Zero, Zero Calorie Sports Drink's ingredients into ingredient categories and note how each relates to food processing. The notes below describe the category, not this specific product's formulation.

Food AcidsProcessing indicator

In this product: Less Than 1% Of Citric Acid.

Common in both traditional and industrial foods.

MineralsProcessing indicator

In this product: Salt And Mono-Potassium Phosphate And Magnesium Chloride And Calcium Chloride (Electrolyte Sources), Acesulfame Potassium, Calcium Disodium Edta (To Protect Color).

Added minerals often compensate for processing.

Synthetic VitaminsProcessing indicator

In this product: Vitamin B3, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Ascorbic Acid (To Protect Taste).

Fortification often compensates for processing losses.