Is vitaminwater XXX açai-blueberry-pomegranate healthy for kids?

Vitaminwater: snack check

• Added sugar
  26 g added sugar per 20 oz bottle (coca-cola.com label)
• Highly processed
  Crystalline fructose, natural flavors, juices for color (label)
• Low protein and fiber
  0 g protein; not a significant fiber source (label)
• Not on choking lists
  Not on AAP or CDC choking lists

Each check is a yes-or-no fact with its source: a green check means the flag does not apply, an amber mark means it does. The count is not a health score. Our sources and how we check them.

Numbers: vitaminwater XXX label, coca-cola.com (vitaminwater products page), checked Oct 24, 2026. Checked October 2026.

What's in it

vitaminwater XXX lists reverse osmosis water, crystalline fructose, and, under 0.5%, vitamins A, C, B3, B5, B6, B12, sodium selenate, manganese citrate, electrolytes, cane sugar, citric acid, gum acacia, natural flavors, and fruit and vegetable juices for color. Per 20 fl oz bottle: 100 calories, 26 g of sugars (26 g added), 0 g of protein, and 0 mg of sodium, with 200% of the Daily Value for vitamin C. On Coca-Cola's vitaminwater page, the seven flavors list: XXX 26 g of added sugar (20 oz, 100 calories); focus kiwi-strawberry 26 g; refresh tropical mango 27 g (with 240 mg of sodium); power-c dragonfruit 27 g; essential orange-orange 27 g; energy tropical citrus 27 g (all 20 oz, 100 calories); and elevate blue raspberry limeade 22 g (16.9 oz, 90 calories).

Flavors with caffeine or sweeteners

Of the seven flavors on Coca-Cola's vitaminwater page, two list caffeine: energy tropical citrus has 60 mg per bottle and focus kiwi-strawberry has 6 mg. vitaminwater zero sugar flavors list 0 g of added sugar and use stevia leaf extract and monk fruit extract. The 2025–2030 Guidelines say no amount of non-nutritive sweeteners is recommended and advise kids 5–10 to avoid caffeinated beverages.

For kids 4–8

One bottle has 26 g of added sugar; the 2025–2030 Guidelines set a ceiling of 10 g per meal for kids 5–10 and list fruit drinks and energy drinks among sugar-sweetened beverages to avoid.

Swaps and pairings

Water and plain milk are the everyday drinks the AAP and the Guidelines point to. Vitamins in a child's diet usually come from food; if you are thinking about vitamin supplements, ask your pediatrician. Water with fruit slices adds flavor without added sugar.

Background: the labeling settlement

According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, in Ackerman v. Coca-Cola (E.D.N.Y., No. 1:09-cv-00395), the parties settled in March 2016 after the court gave final approval to their settlement agreement. Under it, Coca-Cola may not use certain health claims for vitaminwater and indicates on the front of the label that it is "with sweeteners."

How much sugar is in vitamin water?

vitaminwater XXX has 26 g of added sugar per 20 fl oz bottle. On Coca-Cola's page, the other 20 oz flavors list 26–27 g, and elevate blue raspberry limeade lists 22 g per 16.9 oz.

Is vitaminwater zero sugar healthy for kids?

We share facts, not ratings. It lists 0 g of added sugar and is sweetened with stevia leaf extract and monk fruit extract; the 2025–2030 Guidelines say no amount of non-nutritive sweeteners is recommended.

Does vitamin water have caffeine?

Of the seven flavors on Coca-Cola's vitaminwater page, energy tropical citrus lists 60 mg of caffeine per bottle and focus kiwi-strawberry lists 6 mg.

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