Energy Drink Deaths Reveal Lack of FDA Regulation

The FDA is continuing to investigate the deaths of five individuals as well as a non-fatal heart attack potentially related to energy drinks such as Monster, Red Bull, and 5-Hour Energy.  A lawsuit filed in California this month against Monster Energy Drink by the parents of a 14-year-old Maryland girl who died last December after consuming two 24-ounce cans of the popular beverage in a 24-hour period.  Autopsy reports confirmed that the cause of death was cardiac arrhythmia due to caffeine toxicity.  Each can of the potent concoction contains the caffeine equivalent of seven cans of Coca-Cola.

According to the Tampa Bay Times, the girl’s mother obtained incident reports released by the FDA, which revealed five deaths in the past three years that were potentially caused by Monster.  The family’s product liability lawsuit is based primarily on Monster’s alleged failure to warn consumers of the potentially fatal health risks inherent in the drink’s exorbitant caffeine content.

One particularly disturbing aspect of this issue is that the caffeine content in energy drinks such as Monster is not regulated by the FDA, which requires soda manufacturers to list the amount of caffeine in their beverages if they exceed .02 percent.  The makers of Monster, Rockstar, and similar beverages, however, have found a way to circumvent the FDA caffeine labeling requirement by marketing them as “energy drinks” or “dietary supplements” rather than as sodas, soft drinks, or colas.

A comparison of the ingredients in soda and energy drinks, however, reveals large quantities of sugar and other similar ingredients in both categories of beverages.  Thus, the FDA must close this loophole and apply the labeling requirement to all drink manufacturers.  It is unfortunate that, yet again, multiple tragedies must occur before any measures are taken to warn and protect consumers from unscrupulous product manufacturers.