Family & Pet Safety
Not Dog Safe 🐶❌
Pregnancy Caution 🤰⚠️
Limit for Kids 👶⚠️
Ingredient Decoder
High Risk Additives
Red 40 (Allura Red)
A synthetic petroleum-based dye used to create bright red colors in candy and drinks. It has been linked to hyperactivity and attention issues in sensitive children. Banned in parts of Europe for use in baby food.
Sodium Benzoate
A preservative used in acidic foods like soda and pickles. When mixed with Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), it can form Benzene, a known human carcinogen.
Potassium Benzoate
A preservative used in diet sodas. Can break down into benzene (carcinogen) if exposed to heat and light.
Moderate Caution
Yellow 5 (Tartrazine)
A synthetic lemon-yellow azo dye derived from coal tar. It is known to cause allergic reactions (like hives) in people with aspirin intolerance and has been linked to behavioral changes in children.
Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K)
A calorie-free sweetener usually blended with Sucralose. Contains Methylene Chloride (a carcinogen) residues from manufacturing, though FDA deems levels safe.
Caramel Color
The brown color in colas. Class III and IV caramel coloring contain 4-MEI, a chemical byproduct that is a possible human carcinogen.
Full Ingredients List:
Diet Compatibility
Vegan
OK
Gluten-Free
OK
Keto
Avoid
What you need to know
Fat in low quantity (0g)
This product contains a low amount of fat. A healthy choice for your heart.
Source: National Health Service UK (NHS) - Fat: the facts
Saturated Fat in low quantity (0g)
Saturated fat in low quantity. Good for maintaining healthy cholesterol levels.
Source: National Health Service UK (NHS)
Sugars in high quantity (61.1g)
A high consumption of sugar causes weight gain, tooth decay, and risks of type 2 diabetes. Limit sugary drinks and snacks.
Source: National Health Service UK (NHS) - Sugar: the facts
Salt in moderate quantity (0.556g)
Salt in moderate quantity.
Source: WHO - Fact sheet - Salt reduction
Health Benefits
- ● Convenient Snack
Cons & Warnings
- ● Contains Red 40 (Allura Red)
- ● High Sugar Content
Processing Level
Based on ingredient analysis (NOVA System)
Analysis Report
Data-Driven
Dr. Mark Chen, PhD
Food Scientist
"Mark analyzes food processing levels and additive safety."
Health Integrity Analysis
Is Mountain Dew Code Red truly good for you, or is it just clever marketing? We analyzed the nutritional density, ingredient safety, and processing levels using the CakeID Algorithm. With a calculated health score of 5/100, here is the deep dive into what you are actually eating.
⚠️ Additive Watch: Critical Flags
The ingredient list reveals the presence of Red 40 (Allura Red). A synthetic petroleum-based dye used to create bright red colors in candy and drinks. It has been linked to hyperactivity and attention issues in sensitive children. Banned in parts of Europe for use in baby food. For health-conscious consumers, this is a significant red flag that lowered the product's overall score.
The Sugar Reality Check
This product contains 61g of sugar per 100g. To put that into perspective, that's equivalent to eating roughly 15 sugar cubes directly. While it might taste great, such a high glycemic load can lead to rapid insulin spikes followed by energy crashes.
Final Verdict
Taking into account the macro-nutrient balance, additive risks, and caloric density, Mountain Dew Code Red achieves a CakeID Score of 5/100.
Health Recommendations
Sugar Spike
High sugar may cause energy crashes.
Similar Alternatives
Frequently Asked Questions
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Official GTIN Code
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 package
Calories
* The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Burn It Off
To burn off the 250 kcal in 100g, you'd need to:
Sugar Visualization
1 cube ≈ 4g sugar (Contains ~15 cubes)
Macros
FDA Check
Passed. No active recalls.
