Shop Map Research Get the app
Red Bull Energy Drink

Common questions

Is Red Bull Energy Drink healthy?

Red Bull Energy Drink scores 25/100 on Scout's independent analysis of ingredients, additives, and lab results — one of the lower scores in Scout's catalog. Red Bull Energy Drink scores 25/100.

Does Red Bull Energy Drink contain seed oils?

No — Scout's ingredient analysis marks Red Bull Energy Drink as seed-oil free.

How processed is Red Bull Energy Drink?

Red Bull Energy Drink is NOVA Group 4: Ultra-Processed Foods.

How does Red Bull Energy Drink compare to other energy drinks?

Red Bull Energy Drink ranks #21 of 23 energy drinks in Scout's independent rankings. The current top score in the category is Naked Sparkling Energy Drink at 95/100.

Which ingredients drive Red Bull Energy Drink's score?

In Scout's ingredient-by-ingredient analysis, Taurine counts in its favor; Sugar, Glucose, Natural and Artificial Flavors are flagged as ingredients of concern. The full breakdown, with why each one matters, is in the Key ingredients section on this page.

Healthy alternatives

95
Naked Sparkling Energy Drink
Naked
$32.99
93
Mateina Yerba Mate
Mateina
$39.00
92
Joggy Organic Energy Drink
Joggy
$39.99
86
Cadence RACE Energy Hydration Drink
Cadence
$45.00

See more

Red Bull Energy Drink

Red Bull
Seed oil free
25 Poor

At a glance

Beneficial ingredients 1
Harmful ingredients 4
Owned by Red Bull GmbH
Category Energy Drinks
Summary

Red Bull Energy Drink scores 25/100. The original energy drink carries 26g of added sugar in an 8.4oz can, and that sugar load is the whole story — it outweighs every additive question in the category. The functional profile is sparse: taurine, 80mg caffeine and basic B-vitamins. Artificial flavors and unspecified 'Colors' with no disclosure add to it. It sits well below the zero-sugar energy drinks despite using no artificial sweeteners at all.

Key ingredients 6

Sugar26g
Bad

26g added sugar (53% DV) in a single 8.4oz can. Refined sugar is a major driver of metabolic inflammation, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular risk.

See more about Sugar →
Glucose
Bad

Additional refined sugar stacked on top of the primary sugar. Double sugar load with zero nutritional benefit.

See more about Glucose →
Natural and Artificial Flavors
Bad

Contains artificial flavors — synthetic chemical compounds with no nutritional value or transparency.

See more about Natural and Artificial Flavors →
Colors
Bad

Unspecified 'Colors' — likely artificial dyes. Complete lack of transparency on which colorants are used.

See more about Colors →
Caffeine80mg
Neutral

80mg is a relatively modest dose — about the same as a cup of coffee. Source not specified as natural.

See more about Caffeine →
Taurine
Good

Amino acid supporting cardiovascular function, hydration, and exercise performance. The one genuinely functional ingredient.

See more about Taurine →

Processing

Group 4 · Ultra-processed

Ultra-Processed Foods

Get the full breakdown in the Scout appTake Scout shopping

Scan any product to see lab results, healthy alternatives, and your personalized analysis.

Download on theApp Store GET IT ONGoogle Play
Amazon pricing & content

Amazon price as of . Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.