Are Energy Drinks Unhealthy?
A call to investigate the safety and marketing tactics of Prime Energy highlights the unregulated, often unhealthy nature of energy drinks
Laden with caffeine, sugar or sugar substitutes and a dizzying mix of questionable other ingredients, energy drinks have surged to $19 billion in annual U.S. sales in the 25 years since the introduction of Red Bull. These beverages are often peddled as more than energy boosters, with some making unsubstantiated health claims or inferring outsized performance or other healthy outcomes.
Energy drinks are, however, almost entirely unnecessary additions to any reasonable diet, at best, and in many cases downright dangerous — especially for kids.
Consider one of the newest and suddenly controversial products: Prime energy drinks. The zero-sugar, electrolyte-heavy, influencer-peddled beverage packs 200 milligrams (mg) of caffeine in a 12-ounce serving. That’s anywhere from three to 10 times more than a typical soda and akin to the amount in a Starbucks Caffè Americano.
The extreme caffeine has health experts concerned, particularly when the drink is consumed by young people. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer just made the issue political, calling on the FDA to investigate Prime and the…
