Venom Energy

Flavor:

Zero Sugar Citrus

Ingredients:

Carbonated Water, Erythritol, Citric Acid, Taurine, Sodium Citrate, L-carnitine, Inositol, Caffeine, Sodium benzoate (preservative), Acesulfame potassium (Ace-K, acesulfame K), Sucralose, Niacinamide (vitamin B3), Ginseng Extract, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (vitamin B6), Guarana Extract, Riboflavin (vitamin B2), Natural Flavors, Cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12).

Rating: We Avoid

Ingredient Score:

Rated at 1/5 green leaves, Venom Energy Zero Sugar Citrus falls at the bottom tier of the cleaner food options spectrum on our website. This product is not organic, and it does not use non-GMO ingredients. The presence of added sugars, particularly harmful ones like acesulfame potassium and sucralose, significantly impacts its rating. Moreover, it contains additives that may pose health risks, including natural flavors and sodium citrate, as well as a known harmful additive, sodium benzoate.

Venom Energy Zero Sugar Citrus includes a mix of both synthetic and naturally-derived ingredients. Carbonated water serves as the base, while erythritol, a sugar alcohol, provides sweetness without the calories. However, the inclusion of citric acid, while common in many beverages for flavor and preservation, is considered an added sugar in our assessment. The energy-boosting components, such as taurine, caffeine, and extracts from ginseng and guarana, are typical in energy drinks. L-carnitine and inositol are also present, substances often associated with metabolic processes in the body.

The drink is fortified with vitamins, including niacinamide (B3), pyridoxine hydrochloride (B6), riboflavin (B2), and cyanocobalamin (B12). Yet, the benefits of these vitamins are overshadowed by the concerns regarding other ingredients. The product also uses artificial sweeteners acesulfame potassium and sucralose, which have been linked to potential health concerns and contribute to its low score.

The preservative sodium benzoate is another contentious ingredient. When combined with vitamin C or ascorbic acid, it can form benzene, a known carcinogen. Although this product does not list vitamin C as an ingredient, the presence of sodium benzoate alone is enough for a significant deduction in our rating system.

Given these considerations, Venom Energy Zero Sugar Citrus earns the minimum recommendation on our scale. The combination of non-organic, GMO, artificial sweeteners, and potentially harmful additives leads to the advice that consumers should avoid this product for cleaner food choices.