Wondering if that Full Throttle energy drink that you’ve been drinking is vegan-friendly or not? Fret not – I’ve done the investigation for you, and I have the answer you’ve been looking forward for:
In short, though it isn’t officially certified, Full Throttle is vegan-friendly in terms of its ingredients, however, there are some concerns regarding the colorings in Full Throttle energy drink that ethical vegans may take issue with.
I’ll be going into the details on this topic, so continue reading to find out more about the effects of Full Throttle, from whether its ingredients are really vegan, to how suitable it is for specific diets.
Let’s get started…
What Are The Ingredients In Full Throttle?
First off, let’s take a look at the ingredients in a 16 fl. oz can of Full Throttle to get an idea of what we’re working with:
- Carbonated water
- High fructose corn syrup
- Natural & artificial flavors
- Citric acid
- Sugar
- Sodium citrate
- Sodium benzoate (preservative)
- D-Ribose
- Caffeine (160mg per can)
- Niacinamide (vitamin B3)
- Calcium D-Pantothenate (vitamin B5)
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6)
- Blue #1
- Red #40
- Cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12)
Are The Ingredients In Full Throttle Vegan-Friendly?
| Ingredients | Source | Is It Vegan? |
| High fructose corn syrup | Plant-based | Yes |
| Citric acid | Plant-based/synthetic | Yes |
| Natural flavors | Plant | Yes |
| Sodium citrate | Plant-based | Yes |
| Sodium benzoate | Synthetic | Yes |
| D-Ribose | Synthetic | Yes |
| Caffeine | Synthetic | Yes |
| Sugar | Vegetable | Yes |
| Niacinamide (vitamin B3) | Synthetic | Yes |
| Calcium D- Pantothenate (vitamin B5) | Synthetic | Yes |
| Cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12) | Fugal/Plant-Based/Synthetic | Yes |
| Blue #1 | Synthetic | Yes |
| Red #40 | Synthetic | Yes |
I’ve cross-referenced the ingredients in the table above with PETA’s list of animal-derivative ingredients, so you compare them side by side for easy reference.
Based on the table above, there doesn’t seem to be anything in Full Throttle that stands out as non-vegan, thus Full Throttle should be okay for you if you’re a vegan or following a vegan diet.
Full Throttle Sugar Content
Each 16 fl. oz can of Full Throttle contains 55g of sugar.
For a single can of energy drink, 55g is a rather considerable amount of sugar.
For comparison, 55g of sugar is around 4 full tablespoons of sugar. I’m sure you’re aware that having that much sugar in one serving isn’t good for you.
Considering that the AHA recommends a maximum daily added sugar intake of no more than 25g for women and 36g for men, the sugar content in Full Throttle already exceeds the approved limit – and that’s without considering sugar you may also be getting from other sources in your diet.
That’s kinda scary…
Having that much sugar over the long run can lead to potential health issues like:
- Weight gain
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Acne
- Increased risk of depression
- Cavities
- Kidney disease
The high sugar content in Full Throttle may also cause you to have a sugar crash due to the sudden rise and fall in your blood sugar levels.
Since Full Throttle contains a lot of sugar, it also has plenty of calories, which may contribute to problems of its own unless you’re constantly burning calories off with exercise and an active lifestyle.
In the case of Full Throttle, I would advise you to have only one can per day due to its high sugar content. It’s probably best to moderate your consumption of Full Throttle or choose healthier, low-calorie energy drinks instead.
Check out some of the best energy drinks with less sugar in my other article to learn more.
Is The Sugar In Full Throttle Energy Drink Vegan?
Since sugar is usually obtained from plants, we can safely assume that the sugar in Full Throttle Energy Drink is a vegan-friendly ingredient.
By itself, sugar is organic and vegan, but I believe the main concern ethical vegans usually have about sugar is how it’s processed.
Ethically, the usage of charred animal bones in the refining process of some sugars can be an issue if you’re an ethical vegan.
In spite of that, while it may cause you to worry, PETA says that you shouldn’t stress too much over this matter if you aren’t sure how the sugar you regularly consume is produced.
Nonetheless, if you still feel troubled over the sugar source in Full Throttle, the best way for you to settle this may be to contact the manufacturer for a definitive answer.
How Much Caffeine Is In Full Throttle Energy?
A single 16 fl. oz can of Full Throttle Energy contains 160mg of caffeine, which is a pretty average amount for an energy drink of its size.
For reference, a regular 16 fl. oz can of Monster contains 160mg of caffeine as well, while stronger energy drinks like Bang and Adrenaline Shoc have a massive 300mg of caffeine per 16 fl. oz can.
Caffeine-wise, I prefer to have between 50mg to 100mg of caffeine per drink as I find that amount gives me just enough of a boost without overwhelming me with jitters or a headache.
Of course, this all depends on how fast your caffeine metabolism is, you may need two cans for the effects of the caffeine in Full Throttle to kick in, depending on your caffeine tolerance.
However, the FDA recommends a maximum daily caffeine limit of no more than 400mg for healthy adults.
Excessively high consumption of caffeine can cause adverse effects like:
- Insomnia
- Headaches
- Restlessness and shakiness
- Dizziness
- Rapid heart rhythm
- Anxiety
- Dehydration
Provided you stay under the maximum daily caffeine limit of 400mg and always consume Full Throttle and other caffeinated beverages in moderation, you should avoid any of these side effects.
Are The Colorings In Full Throttle Vegan-Friendly?
Food colorings are known to be controversial among ethical vegans. Although the colorings themselves may be vegan-friendly, some of them may have been tested on animals and that’s where the main concern lies.
If you’re an ethical vegan, you may feel unsettled by the fact that some food colorings have been tested on animals, even if the colorings themselves are synthetic.
Depending on what kind of vegan you are, Full Throttle might not be vegan-friendly for your purposes, and you might want to find other energy drinks that are both vegan-friendly and contain ingredients that aren’t tested on animals instead.
But, if you’re following a vegan diet for the health benefits instead, then food colorings may not be much of an issue to you.
Is Full Throttle Energy Drink Gluten-Free?
Though it’s not officially certified as such, Full Throttle is considered gluten-free as it doesn’t contain or have any traces of barley, rye, or wheat products.
If you have celiac disease or simply want to reduce your gluten intake, you’ll be pleased to know that Full Throttle is gluten-free and you can add it to your regular rotation of gluten-free energy drinks.
However, just because Full Throttle doesn’t contain any gluten, it doesn’t necessarily make it any healthier than other energy drinks, so make sure to still consume Full Throttle in moderation.
Is Full Throttle Energy Drink Keto-Friendly?
Full Throttle isn’t the best drink for the keto diet because it contains large amounts of calories.
A keto diet is a diet that involves increasing your consumption of fats while cutting back on carbs so your body will get used to burning fat for energy. There are many benefits to following a keto diet, with some of them being improving your overall health and keeping fit.
If you’re looking for energy drinks that are compatible with a keto diet, take a look at the article I wrote about the best energy drinks for a keto diet.
Is Full Throttle Vegan-Friendly?
In conclusion, based on its ingredients, Full Throttle is vegan-friendly. However, if you’re an ethical vegan, there are questions about the origin of the colorings and sugar that are used in Full Throttle.
If you’re an ethical vegan and strictly avoid products that contain ingredients that have been tested on animals, Full Throttle probably isn’t the energy drink for you.
On the other hand, if you’re following a vegan diet for the health benefits, it’s probably fine for you to drink Full Throttle.
That said, though Full Throttle is vegan-friendly, you should still drink it wisely and avoid having too many cans in a day.
I recommend no more than a single can of Full Throttle each day.
What makes an energy drink not vegan?
For an energy drink to be considered vegan it must not contain any animal products, or by-products or be tested using animals. Moreover, it must be completely made out of plant-based products.
Some common ingredients to watch out for to determine if an energy drink is vegan are; glycerol, sugar, and BCAAs.
Many energy drinks are considered to be non-vegan in their ingredients. However, there is still a wide selection of vegan energy drinks that exist.
Alternatives To Full Throttle
If you’re looking for other vegan-friendly energy drinks, you don’t have to look far because I’ve listed a few vegan options you can try out:
REIZE (10 Out Of 10)
If you find that Full Throttle has more caffeine and sugar than you can handle, how about an energy drink with less caffeine and a great taste?
REIZE is a great powdered energy drink that comes in convenient 4g sachets, which make it easy and handy to take with you anywhere you go.
With a sensible 50mg of caffeine, REIZE is sugar-free and has only 11 calories per serving.
Plus, REIZE is packed with a smart blend of ingredients like taurine, ginseng, and B-group vitamins that work together to give you the perfect energy boost without the sugar crash afterwards.
The best part?
REIZE ships right to your door for only about $1 per drink.
That’s incredible value for money.
Give REIZE a try today and I’m sure you’ll agree that REIZE is a smarter choice than Full Throttle.