Course:FNH200/Assignments/2024/Monster Energy - Regular vs Zero Ultra

Introduction

Monster Energy is a popular energy drink known for its bold flavor and high caffeine content, providing a quick energy boost. Along with the regular version which contains sugar, a Zero Ultra version of this drink exists too which promises to offer the same energy boost without the added sugar, giving consumers a lighter option with the same great taste.

Our team aims to compare these two different versions of Monster Energy drink.

Pictures of the Products

Image 1: Front-facing label of a can of Monster Original

Image 2: Front-facing label of a can of Monster Zero Ultra

Ingredient lists

Image 3: Ingredients & Nutrition facts of Monster Originalnster Original

Image 4: Ingredients & Nutrition facts of Monster Zero Ultra

Monster Original	Monster Zero (Ultra)
Carbonated water Sugar Glucose Citric acid Natural Flavors Taurine Sodium citrate Grape Skin Extract (Colour) Panax ginseng root extract Caffeine Sorbic acid (preservative) Benzoic acid (preservative) Niacinamide (vitamin B3) Salt D - Glucuronolactone Inositol Guarana seed extract Sucralose Pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6) Riboflavin (vitamin B2) Maltodextrin Cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12)	Carbonated water Citric acid Erythritol Artificial flavors Taurine Sodium citrate Panax ginseng root extract Caffeine Sorbic acid (preservative) Benzoic acid (preservative) Sucralose Niacinamide (vitamin B3) Salt D - Glucuronolactone Inositol Guarana seed extract Pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6) Riboflavin (vitamin B2) Cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12) D-Calcium Pantothenate Acesulfame-K

Identification of Fat Substitutes, Sugar Substitutes, and Additives

Monster Original:

• Sugar Substitutes: Sucralose
• Additives:
  • Citric acid
  • Sodium citrate
  • Sorbic acid (preservative)
  • Benzoic acid (preservative)
  • Natural flavors
  • Grape Skin Extract (Colour)
  • Maltodextrin

Monster Zero Ultra:

• Sugar Substitutes: Erythritol, Sucralose, Acesulfame-K
• Additives:
  • Citric acid
  • Sodium citrate
  • Sorbic acid (preservative)
  • Benzoic acid (preservative)
  • Artificial flavors

Functional Properties of Substitutes and Additives

Sugar Substitutes:

• Erythritol (in Monster Zero Ultra): A sugar alcohol used as a low-calorie sweetener. It provides sweetness without the calories of sugar and does not raise blood sugar levels. It’s considered safe for use in foods in Canada.
• Sucralose (in both): An artificial sweetener that is much sweeter than sugar but has no calories. It provides sweetness without contributing to calorie intake. It is approved for use in foods and beverages by Health Canada.
• Acesulfame-K (in Monster Zero Ultra): It is an artificial sweetener much sweeter than natural sugar. It offers health benefits like helping with weight management, diabetes and dental health due not requiring minimal consumption for taste.

Additives:

• Citric Acid (in both): Used as a flavoring agent to provide a tart, acidic taste and as a preservative to maintain the stability and shelf-life of the product. It helps to balance the flavor profile of the beverage.
• Sodium Citrate (in both): Acts as a buffering agent to control acidity and stabilize the beverage, ensuring it remains palatable and safe over its shelf life.
• Sorbic Acid and Benzoic Acid (in both): Both are preservatives that inhibit the growth of mold, yeast, and bacteria, ensuring the product remains safe and fresh during storage. They are essential for maintaining the microbiological safety of the beverage.
• Natural Flavors (in Monster Original) : Enhance the taste and aroma of the beverage, providing a more appealing flavor profile. These are typically derived from plant or animal sources.
• Artificial Flavors (in Monster Zero Ultra) : Enhance the taste and aroma of the beverage, providing a more appealing flavor profile. These are typically re-produced in the lab
• Grape Skin Extract (in Monster Original): Used to give an appealing color to the beverage.
• Maltodextrin (in Monster Original): Used as a filler or thickener to improve the texture and mouthfeel of the beverage. It helps in stabilizing the mixture and can also act as a carbohydrate source.

Compare and Contrast :

Similarity :

The following ingredients are present in both the versions :

Carbonated Water, Citric Acid, Taurine, Sodium Citrate, Caffeine, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Niacinamide, Cyanocobalamin, Salt, Guarana Seed Extract, Inositol, Riboflavin, Cyanocobalamin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Panax ginseng root extract, D - Glucuronolactone, Sucralose.

Difference :

The primary difference between the both the versions is the presence of natural sugar. The regular version has natural sugar whereas the Zero Ultra version replaces this with artificial sweeteners like sucralose and acesulfame-K along with a sugar alcohol, erythritol. Maltodextrin, which adds sweetness, bulk, and quick-digesting carbs in the regular version is omitted in the Zero Ultra version to keep the calorie count low. Due to this the Zero Ultra version has only 10 calories per 16 fl. oz. (473 ml) can compared to the 210 calories of the regular version. The regular version contains Grape Skin Extract, which lends color to the drink for visual appeal, while the Zero Ultra version has no such extract to give the drink a specific hue. The regular version has 160 mg of Caffeine per 16 fl. oz. (473 ml) can compared to the 137 mg of the Zero Ultra version.

Labels

Labelling Information	Monster Original	Monster Zero Ultra
Bilingual Labelling	English and French, two language versions of description are either sepeated with a "/" or directly below each other	English and French, two language versions of description are either sepeated with a "/" or directly below each other
Country of Origin	Canned in Canada	Canned in Canada
Date Marking and Storage Instructions	Store between 15 - 30°C Expirary date printed at the base of the can	Store between 15 - 30°C Expirary date printed at the base of the can
Identity and Principal Place of Business	Canada, manufactured by Monster Energy Canada Ltd.	Canada, manufactured by Monster Energy Canada Ltd.
Irradiated Foods	N/A	N/A
Legibility and Location	Nutritional facts and ingredients list clearly legible with appropriate font size and font color, placed in the body of the can	Nutritional facts and ingredients list clearly legible with appropriate font size and font color, placed in the body of the can
List of Ingredients	Listed below the nutrition table in order of decreasing proportion	Listed below the nutrition table in order of decreasing proportion
Nutrition Facts Table	Show the Calories, the amount of fat, saturated and trans fats, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrate, fiber, sugars, protein, calcium, iron and Vitamins A and C contained	Show the Calories, the amount of fat, saturated and trans fats, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrate, fiber, sugars, protein, calcium, iron and Vitamins A and C contained
Net Quantity	473 mL	473 mL
Sweeteners	Sugar, Glucose and Sucralose	Sucralose, Acesulfame-K and Erythritol
Other Mandatory Information	High caffine content listed specifically Usage recommeded: 1 can maximum per day Not recommended for children, women who are pregnant, plan to be pregnant, breastfeeding, or individuals who are caffeine sensitive Not recommended to replace food or fluid intake, or to use with alcohol	High caffine content listed specifically Usage recommeded: 1 can maximum per day Not recommended for children, women who are pregnant, plan to be pregnant, breastfeeding, or individuals who are caffeine sensitive Not recommended to replace food or fluid intake, or to use with alcohol

The information provided on the label complies with the regulatory requirements as outlined in Lesson 04, and in the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act and Regulations.

References

This Food Science resource was created by Course:FNH200.