After multivitamins, energy drinks are the highest consumed dietary supplement in the country. And while the contents in the can certainly make an impact, their labels can make an even bigger splash, often decked in electric colors and explosive graphics.
However, an energy drink label must feature more than a dynamic design. In accordance with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation, every can must also display the serving size, nutrition facts, and potential allergens present within each can.
This guide will explore the field of energy drink labeling. As a company that labels a wide variety of beverages daily, Wildpack Beverage knows the industry standards and federal requirements. Additionally, we’ll show you the easiest, fastest, and most reliable way to ensure your products are labeled properly—and efficiently.
#1 Serving Size
At the very top of the can, it’s your job to clue the customer in on the recommended serving size. Serving size isn’t about personal preference or enjoyment. It’s about creating a simple method for comparison across a broad market of beverages.
As with all FDA-required labeling, text-sizing, graphical components, and overall layout are standardized and necessary for full compliance. The back of all energy and sports drink cans should look almost identical no matter the brand.
When considering serving size, keep the following facts in mind:
- 8 to 12-ounce cans – While many single-serving energy drinks (and soft drinks) list their serving size as 12 fluid ounces, larger 16-ounce cans may split their serving size as 8 ounces. Suggested serving sizes do not typically exceed 12 ounces.
- 20-ounce cans – The FDA suggests that large cans (20-ounces or greater) make their serving size vs. can size clear on both the front and back of the can. This extra reminder could bring more attention to the detailed information on the can and assist those unfamiliar with recommended serving sizes.
#2 Nutrition Facts
Since the passing of the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990, nearly every non-alcoholic beverage sold has been under the strict guidelines of the FDA. Nutrition facts provide transparency and dietary knowledge to consumers so they can make informed decisions about what they eat or drink.
Note the contents of your can. That includes one column referring to the quantity of each nutritional ingredient (listed in grams or milligrams) and another column reporting the percentage of the daily value (%DV) of each nutrient, based on 2,000 calories per day diet.
While nutritional facts vary from drink to drink, ensure you include the following values.
Calories
A calorie is a unit of energy, but it’s not the kind of energy typically associated with energy drinks. Caffeine and vitamins provide the jolt in most energy drinks, while calories take a backseat.
When divulging calories on your label, keep the following in mind:
- It’s a measurement – Calories make up the sum total of macronutrients contained in any beverage or food product, including carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Calories themselves are just a measurement of these macronutrients, accounting for everything that will be used as energy or stored as fat.
- Diet, zero, low-calorie – Alternative sweeteners allow beverage manufacturers to produce low or even no-calorie energy drinks. Artificial sugars can reduce the caloric content of an energy or sports drink while still providing a sweet-tasting flavor profile. Diet, zero-calorie, or low-calorie products typically include additional descriptors disclosed on the front or back of the can.
Total Fat
Fat is usually limited to nuts, meats, oils, and dairy products, so it’s rarely a concern for energy drink manufacturers or consumers. Unless you’re producing a highly unorthodox beverage, the total fat content of your energy drink should be less than 1 gram.
That said, even if your beverage is totally fat-free, you must still include this macronutrient category under the nutrition facts. You’ll just have a zero in that column.
Sodium
No one’s looking for a salty-tasting energy drink, but sodium content can be an important factor in the nutritional facts of your beverage.
Sodium quantities in values of energy drinks vary substantially, ranging from 12 milligrams to 75 milligrams (per 100 grams of liquid). Additionally, beverages may be marketed as low-sodium if they provide less than 5 percent of your daily value of sodium.
Clear and accurate sodium reporting is essential for those with high blood pressure or other chronic illnesses or those who are simply looking to stay informed about their sodium consumption.
Total Carb.
Carbohydrates are a macronutrient found in a variety of foods, from fruits to bread. Once ingested, carbs are broken down into sucrose (sugar) to be used as a main source of energy for your body.
Carbohydrates cover three distinct categories:
- Sugars
- Starches
- Fibers
Energy drinks on the market today aren’t known to contain any amount of starches and fibers. That means the number of total carbohydrates in an energy drink will most likely match the total amount of sugar.
Sugars
While the flavor profile of energy drinks can be complex and robust, sugar is most often the key to crafting a popular flavor. As such, you’ll need to include total sugar, added sugar, and alternative sugar to your nutrition label.
When considering the total sugar value on a nutrition label, consider the following:
- Measure in grams – 3000 milligrams and 3 grams are the same amount, but that doesn’t mean they appear the same to consumers. To avoid causing confusion with misleading information, ensure your sugar is listed in total grams rather than milligrams.
- Alternative sugars – While we’ve already covered the effect artificial sweeteners can have on calories, it’s worth noting that some artificial sweeteners may be listed in the total sugars category. Common sugar alternatives include Erythritol, Ace-K, and Sucralose.
Protein
The average energy drink contains little to no protein. That said, there are some specialized energy products designed to deliver a protein boost. These drinks are often marketed to athletes and exercise enthusiasts. They are sometimes even marketed as “supplements,” which removes them from standard FDA regulations for beverages.
Additionally, high-protein energy drinks are frequently labeled as “shakes.” These beverages combine the caffeine, vitamins, and flavors of energy drinks with protein products such as casein or whey.
While these products are not strictly energy drinks, they will likely include the same nutritional fact listings, along with further details about their intended usage.
#3 Vitamin Content
There are 13 essential vitamins that every human needs to function at their peak potential. While energy drinks aren’t necessarily a source for your daily vitamins, they do frequently contain a high level.
Vitamins commonly found in energy drinks include:
- Vitamin B – You’re likely to find riboflavin (vitamin B2), Niacin (vitamin B3), and vitamin B6 listed on the back of many popular energy drinks.
- Vitamin C – This water-soluble vitamin is frequently found in fruit and vegetables and is used in the maintenance of various bodily tissues. It’s also a frequent addition to energy drinks, and it can help consumers maintain energy levels throughout the day.
In addition, you can use this section of the product label to report the vitamin D, calcium, potassium, and iron contents, in every serving.
#4 Caffeine Content
The crown jewel of energy drinks, caffeine is a key ingredient for most energy drinks. While the FDA doesn’t have any specific guidelines about listing caffeine quantities, the American Beverage Association (ABA), a trade group of major beverage manufacturers, has implemented its own standardizations that apply to the majority of the energy drink market.
Its label guidance includes the following considerations in regards to caffeine:
- Total caffeine quantity – This designation is separate from the nutritional facts and lists a beverage’s total caffeine from all sources. The total caffeine per serving and container size should be listed in separate columns.
- Advisory statements – Excessive caffeine can cause negative side effects. That’s why the ABA has elected to provide advisory warnings on a caffeinated beverage to protect young children and others with caffeine sensitivities.
#5 Ingredients
Everything that goes into your energy drink should be clearly noted in the ingredient section. While you may be afraid of giving away your secret formula, it’s highly unlikely anyone will be able to crack the code. The ingredient list does not supply the preparation methods or amounts of any ingredient, making it easy to protect your recipe while being transparent with consumers.
In addition to vitamins and caffeine, energy drinks commonly include:
- Carbonated water
- Sugars (Sucrose, Glucose)
- Taurine
- Guarana
- Sodium Bicarbonate
- Magnesium Carbonate
Your beverage must contain everything listed on your ingredient list. It’s a federal mandate that the FDA takes very seriously.
To ensure a reliable beverage label that complies with federal standards, it’s best to look to the professionals. A copacker like Wildpack can sleeve, label, and copack your energy drinks with precision and efficiency and provide quality control to ensure your labels are hitting the mark.
#6 Allergens
While allergens are fairly uncommon in energy drinks, it’s worth noting that approximately 2 percent of adults in the US suffer from food allergies.
This is why strict regulations on major allergens are enforced across all foods and beverages. If your products are manufactured in the same vicinity as common allergens like tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybean, it may be necessary to list this clearly on your energy drink label design.
Wildpack Beverage: For All You Energy Drink Label Needs
This can all sound like a lot to squeeze into a single can. In addition to a dazzling design, your beverage label must also comply with FDA regulations pertaining to serving size, nutrition facts, and ingredients. Fortunately, you don’t have to do it alone.
At Wildpack, our sleeving and labeling team utilizes first-rate tools and industry expertise to design a product label that checks all the boxes. We partner with beverage manufacturers to provide show-stopping labels, fast turnarounds, and high-quality customer service.
Elevate your brand with Wildpack today.
Sources:
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Energy Drinks. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/energy-drinks
Food Insight. The Nutrition Facts Label: Its History, Purpose and Updates. https://foodinsight.org/the-nutrition-facts-label-its-history-purpose-and-updates/
FDA. CPG Sec 510.800 Beverages-Serving Size Labeling.
Congress.gov. Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990. https://www.congress.gov/bill/101st-congress/house-bill/3562
University of California. Nutrition and health info sheet: Energy drinks. https://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/pdf/8265.pdf
WebMD. Types of Dietary Fats. https://www.webmd.com/diet/guide/types-fat-in-foods
Cleveland Clinic. Carbohydrates. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/15416-carbohydrates
Healthline. Do Protein Shakes Work? Muscle Gain and Weight Loss. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/do-protein-shakes-work#dietary-supplement
Medline Plus. B Vitamins. https://medlineplus.gov/bvitamins.html
FDA. Sodium in Your Diet. https://www.fda.gov/food/nutrition-education-resources-materials/sodium-your-diet
Diet and Fitness Today. Amount of Sodium in Energy drinks. http://www.dietandfitnesstoday.com/sodium-in-energy-drinks.php
FDA. Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (FALCPA). https://www.fda.gov/food/food-allergensgluten-free-guidance-documents-regulatory-information/food-allergen-labeling-and-consumer-protection-act-2004-falcpa
American Beverage Association. ABA Guidance for the Responsible Labeling and Marketing of Energy Drinks. https://www.energydrinkinformation.com/files/resources/2014-energy-drinks-guidance-approved-by-bod-43020c.pdf
