Vitamin Water

This product receives a 1/5 green leaf rating, indicating it falls short of our standards for cleaner food options. Vitamin Water Strawberry Lemonade is a non-organic beverage that contains both GMO ingredients and added sugars, including stevia and stevia leaf extract. The presence of citric acid also contributes to the sugar content. Additionally, sucrose is used, which we classify as a more harmful type of added sugar.

Beyond sugars, the product includes several additives. Natural flavors, listed ambiguously, raise concerns due to their unspecified origins and potential health implications. Pyridoxine hydrochloride, a form of vitamin B6, is synthetically produced and may not be as beneficial as naturally sourced vitamins. The preservative sodium benzoate is known for its potential to form benzene, a carcinogen, when combined with vitamin C, which this beverage also contains.

While Vitamin Water Strawberry Lemonade does offer a range of vitamins, including A, C, E, B5, B6, B7, and B12, and electrolytes such as magnesium and calcium lactates and potassium phosphate, the benefits could be offset by the other ingredients. The product also contains color from fruit and vegetable juices, stevia leaf extract for sweetness, and medium chain triglycerides for texture.

Given the ingredient profile, this beverage does not align with our criteria for a clean food product. The inclusion of GMOs, non-organic components, added sugars, and harmful additives significantly reduce its rating. Our assessment is to avoid this product in favor of alternatives that adhere more closely to healthful and transparent food standards. This recommendation is based on the product’s overall composition and the values that guide our evaluation process, which prioritizes organic, non-GMO, and additive-free options.