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Subscribe to RSSThirteen deaths over the past four years have been linked to the popular caffeinated drink 5-Hour Energy, according to the FDA. The company that distributes the drink says its product is safe when used as directed. TODAY's Natalie Morales reports.
Federal officials are looking into reports of 13 deaths possibly connected to 5-Hour Energy, a liquid “shot” that contains caffeine and other compounds, the New York Times reported on Thursday. But the reports, which track cases since 2009, don’t show how the drinks could have caused the deaths and there’s no evidence the products are harmful.
The Food and Drug Administration, however, is investigating energy drinks, especially those containing caffeine. The agency is under extra pressure after the parents of a 14-year-old Maryland girl sued the company that makes Monster Energy Drink last month, saying caffeine in the drinks killed her. The autopsy report attributed her death to “cardiac arrhythmia due to caffeine toxicity.”
The FDA receives the reports under its adverse events reporting system. This system doesn’t necessarily show that a food or drug caused a problem. People can file an adverse event report if, for instance, someone has a heart attack after taking a drug or getting a vaccination. The two events could be coincidental, and often are.
5-Hour Energy contains about 207 milligrams of caffeine, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, about the amount in two 8-ounce cups of coffee. It also contains vitamins and amino acids, such as taurine. Commonly reported side effects from energy drinks include insomnia, headache and rapid heart beat.
5-Hour Energy
5-Hour Energy contains about 215 milligrams of caffeine, about the amount in two 8-ounce cups of coffee.
Since 2009, 5-Hour Energy has been mentioned in about 90 reports sent to FDA, the New York Times reports. Anyone can send an adverse event report to the FDA, and in 2010, more than 670,000 such reports were filed, the agency’s website shows.
The FDA has classified caffeine as “generally recognized as safe”, meaning it doesn’t require any more review for approval. Medical research suggests it takes as much as 10,000 mg of caffeine to kill a person, although there is not a lot of study on the subject.
In response to an FDA report investigating a link between a popular energy drink and five recent deaths, Consumer Reports launched its own investigation, and found that some of the drinks actually had 20 percent more caffeine than listed, and many of the products don't list levels at all. NBC's Tom Costello reports.
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I remember our science teacher from HS telling us a harrowing tale. When she was in college, she had to go into the emergency room, have her heart STOPPED and restarted again. Why? Because she had drank so much Mt Dew in a short period of time that the caffeine had disrupted her regular heart rhythm.
By my question is this. Why were these parents allowing their 14 year old daughter to drink energy drinks? There have been plenty of warnings about drinking these in excess and that younger kids shouldn't drink them at all. Why didn't the parents take responsibility and explain the dangers to her?
Perhaps, there is a hidden, under-reported, problem not only with "energy" drinks, but within, even, healthy diets. That problem is in the amount of "potassium and potassium salts". Yep. Too much potassium can and will cause Heart and, also, Kidney failures. At present, there are no regulations concerning the listing of potassium in foods and drinks as there are in amounts of fats, and sodium, etc. Question is why is potassium not included in view that such potassium health problems are on the rise?
SCGuardian, you can't possibly be serious. Firstly, there is a significant potassium deficiency in the population. Secondly, energy drinks do not contain a lot of potassium as far as I know. If they did, they would hurt the stomach significantly enough to cause severe gastric pain, irritation, and possibly ulceration too. Finally, one can easily consume many grams of potassium orally if it is part of a food or a dense drink such as low-sodium-V8, and be perfectly fine - this is desirable actually. The only thing you're guarding is rubbish.
MODERATION !!!!!
The parents should be charged. Bad parenting leads to big government telling us how many we can drink.
next thing ya know we will have to report how many we consume
Because kids can't go to a convenience store and buy energy drinks without their parents knowing, right? When's the last time you tried to tell a 14 year old anything and had them listen?
So, a kid can go to the convenience store and buy a gallon of bleach and drink that too. Should we outlaw bleach because parents aren't watching their children?
Mmmmmmm, Bleach.
Look, Kids are going to take things to excess if they think it's going to get them high.
In the 14 year old's case they are trying to say she died from caffeine toxicity. Seems strange given that the toxic dose of caffeine is approximately 7500 miligrams. Let's say because she's young her lethal dose is half that or 3750mg. a 16 ounce Monster energy drink has 160 MG of caffeine. This means that she had to have consumed a little over 23 cans of energy drink to have it be the cause of her death. Clearly it's not the beverage but the user at fault here.
Kids do the same with Robitussin, Whipped Cream, Nutmeg, Benedryl, No-Doz, Primatine Tablets (ephedrine), etc. Basically if a kid hears "if you eat a ton of XYZ you'll trip your ballz off" kids are going to try eating a ton of XYZ to see what happens. Hell if you drink the 375 oz in water you might get water intoxication. You can't ban everything, all you can do is raise your kids to not seek out thrills at the expense of their health.
Sad to hear of this families loss and grief they are dealing with. As usual this article does not give any answers to simple questions. Did she buy them or her parents? Did her parents tell her the danger of energy drinks? etc, etc. Reason I am wondering will depend on who ultimately is responsible for this or maybe nobody at all. It would seem that her extreme excess, in the consumption of this drink is more than likely on her shoulders not this drink of choice. But that information was not given.
Some are saying that her parents are responsible; maybe/maybe not. But unless, they forced her to drink enough to cause "caffeine toxicity", not their fault.
I found a website that will figure how much caffeine one must drink to cause death by caffeine. And just to see the results, I put in body weight 100-120, 5 hour shots as the drink, and the results were between 49.46 and 59.35 bottles, yes bottles. Check it out!!!
www.energyfiend.com/death-by-caffeine
I would have to agree with most of the posts. Why in the world are the parents allowing their child to drink so many caffeine drinks? Look, I've had Red Bull, I've had Monster, I've had an entire pot of coffee all practically inhaled throughout the day. I have a hard time believing that that child had one drink and died from it, and while I get that the parents are hurting because their child is dead, part of that can be considered their fault. It's all in moderation people, like everything it's in moderation.
Kids, people with heart conditions, and pregnant women shouldn't be drinking these. No one should drink to excess, where your heart rate becomes too high. Use your head.
Anything with that much caffiene ....
OR ....
Anything with any SPLENDA at all in it.
Or with Kidney problems!
When I had to stay up for about 72 hrs with only 8 hrs of sleep, all it took was one and a half bottle of 5-hr energy. When my heart rate shot up to 90bpm (normally 60bpm), I refused to drink any further. This girl should've done the same.
If this girl were an adult, she probably would've. But, she was just a child.
Caffiene + sucralose = bad times
I agree, the parents here are to blame. Too much of anything isn't good for you. 5-hr energy isn't doing anything other than what it clearly says on the label, that it would do.
The company shouldnt be to blame cause a dumbass teen drank 5 of these. They even have idiot proof warnings on the label. Maybe her parents should shoulder the blame. Why didnt they make sure she could read?
That's it? I expected a more thorough article then that. I love my energy shots, but I usually get the cheaper off-brand that has a little less of a kick than 5-hour energy.
Try some real energizers, like modafinil. 5-hour Energy shots are for noobs.
These deaths are, probably, not the fault of the energy drink. However caffeine is a stimulant, a drug. I think there should be more information available to the consumer about how much we're ingesting, and stricter guidelines on the manufacturers about labeling these products accurately.
Agreed, but how do you label everything that is on the market since requirements for labeling are not complete? Items are left out of the requirements such as % of Potassium, etc. even when an excess can be detrimental to over-all health.
In fact, Heart-Healthy-Diets, that are so popular and so recommended, can be a death sentence even to the otherwise healthy person even in moderate amounts...
Please, you could label things until the cows came home and it wouldn't make a difference; how many people do you believe actually read the warning or nutritional labels?
Anything in excess can be detrimental to your health; being alive is detrimental to your health. Stop worrying over labeling and warnings—it won't make a difference.
Because the label that says exactly how many mg of caffeine and other ingredients isn't clear enough? Do you need a user's manual with your energy drink? I think it's great that you can die from drinking too many of these. We need more avenues of natural selection in the world.
Well said, mike-v3. For the rest of us, labels are quite useful; they very much do matter.
They matter for what AB; if researchers and the FDA aren't even aware of the exact levels of caffeine toxicity or underlying ailments for which it poses a problem then why would you? If the other myriad of chemicals that are "generally recognized as safe" suffer similar pitfalls, why put a label at all?
Do you know the reactions of your body to certain chains of amino acids, salts, and metals that these drinks might contain? Not to mention the other types of food we ingest on a common basis.
What kind of information are you trying to garner from a label? Or do you simply want to pretend that you know what the @!$%# you're talking about when you read it.
Sucralose causes spikes in blood pressure in some people .... a high enough % that there should be more of a warning. Blood pressure spikes can cause headaches, dizziness, STROKE, etc. This HAS been reported to the makers of 5hr Energy and they totally disregard the reports.
If the caffeine is causing problems, the effect should be seen in persons who slam two or three 16-oz. coffees. I'm pretty sure that some people have that much coffee before lunch each workday.
Since caffeine and alcohol are drugs, maybe they should be sold only in licensed pharmacies, by prescription.
Good point about the coffee consumption.
Maybe you're an idiot (if you really think caffeine should be licensed). I am not even kidding. Freedom and Liberty, anyone?
Believe it or not, Coca Cola was once advertised as a Medicine rather than an OTC drink.
Nice suggestion, please keep any further opinions to yourself. Thanks.
SCG.....YEAH and the Coca in CocaCola was because the active ingredient was cocaine.
And dilaudid and opium used to be over the counter.
And I am living proof that a pot and a half of coffee per day....caffeine by itself....is not a health hazard, but going a day without is a massive headache.
If your body cannot handle the dose of caffeine, don't use caffeinated beverages of any kind. Myself, I prefer to avoid ANY 'energy drink' if it was formulated by a person from another country. The FDA doesn't have to OK these drinks, so they can put pretty much anything in them, and some of that stuff you don't even know what it really is.
Stupid is as stupid does... Would you let your teenager use caffeine? It is addicting and can cause heart problems. That would be like letting them take "speed" pills. Duh!
When I was growing up, my parents NEVER let me drink coffee. I never understood why. Now we know. Odd thing was, I could drink tea if I wanted to. Go figure.
i have epilepsy and the last thing I remember before having a major seizure a couple years ago was drinking a 5-hour energy drink. I've only ever had 6 seizures in my life so it would be a pretty big coincidence if it was unrelated. Ever since then I avoid ALL energy drinks like the plague. If you've ever had a seizure, I wouldn't risk using this product!
Great point by (mailman8)....I see young people daily hanging out at Starbucks etc consuming caffeine like that all the time in much higher amounts...it's highly doubtful that 5hr energy drink is to blame, it's just sensationalism as usual
Here we go again...stupid people who don't use or have common sense. So, now the fed want to regulate what we eat, drink, read, say...think. This country is pathetic, full of idiots who don't understand personal accountability. Check out Congressman Ron Paul's farewell address to congress, try listening with an open mind and this is what our country has become and where its going...loss of personal freedom and liberty.
Good job sheeple.
Solid point from (mailman8).
People and kids consume high amounts of caffeine DAILY at coffee shops everywhere. Highly unlikely that 5hr energy is to blame for anything, unless the girl overdosed on it somehow in relation to her body weight etc.
Don't let the article title drag you into the sensationalism ;)
The way I understand it, her imaginary friend in the sky would only give her something she could handle. If he made her walk into the propellor, why were lawyers and settlements involved?
Wrong article.
Gotta love Corporate America. Work 60 hour weeks, take little to no vacation, pay 5x the amount as the rest of the world for Healthcare and pump up on caffeine and prescription drugs to keep going!
What does that have to do with her choice to drink these drinks? Oh right, it is everyone else's fault but her own. Come on....seriously! We all have choices.
It actually doesn't have much at all to do with the article. It was just a side thought.
I had a major MI last year at 45, and while I had many risk factors; I was drinking 2 -4 Monster energy drinks per day in addition to Diet caffeniated soda in large quantities (which I had always done). I said then and continue to believe today that my MI was due to caffeine overdose. I have been fine since and am now caffeine-free. I was shocked to find that caffeine really doesn't have a taste, so I can still enjoy the soda without consuming the caffeine. And, honestly after you make it through the first few days you don't miss the caffeine.
Be reminded of a certain point. Whats not listed and their percentages may be the actual reason for the deaths and near deaths.
Like my Mom used to always say "Moderation, Moderation, Moderation. Everything in moderation Snappy! I would say: Everything Mom? Isn't that over doing this moderation thing a bit?
Taking energy drinks off the market will result in my death... from exhaustion. Two jobs, new baby at home, and 4 rental properties to manage. The only thing keeping me awake in the mornings is my Monsters.
The bigger question is.......why do people need an energy drink in the first place.....one or two cups a coffee a day not enough?
And for the folks don't like coffee? Who don't want to stop and wait to brew a pot or stand in line a starbucks?
there also could have been underlying issues these people were not aware of and the caffeine along with the taurene...in large quantities triggered the heart attacks or stroke etc. Or, they were taking some form of presciption drugs that had a bad interaction. Caffeine in general is safe in moderation
The FDA banned Ma Huang due to several deaths attributed to its use. The reality was that those that died were very obese and exercising in 100 degree heat, 90 percent humidity and had taken far more than the bottle said to take. They were a time-bomb ready to explode, they took too much and they didn't follow the directions. They could very well have died if they had eaten too many apples before they over-exerted themselves. I didn't realize until then that the govt was trying to regulate stupidity, or at least aim it in a certain direction.
The FDA would be much better employed proving GE/GMO foods along with GLYPHOSATE are safe for human consumption over the long term (remember CIGARETTES ARE SAFE if you distort the truth).
Comparative Testing & high thresholds will kill millions if they are wrong.
People are of no value to the FDA its all about $$$$$$$$$
I wonder if it's possible to put an age restriction on it like tobacco or cigarettes? Then kids would not be able to buy them legally for themselves until they are 18. Problem solved. That being said, any adult that would sue the company that makes the product after reading the label has personal accountability issues.
Some of the ingredients work on the metabolism of potassium, caffiene works on BP and Heart Rate. Children, older people, those with metabolic disorders, etc, etc, etc, etc.........
should be very, very careful with any product that claims to boost energy. All it is doing chemically inducing an agitation of the metabolic system.
I note it contains taurine...found in body tissue. My concern would be an elevation of it in the bloodstreem in conjuntion with the caffeine. Taurine accelerates metabalism of potassium. Throw potassium out of whack, flood the system with abnormal levels of caffeine and B vitamins........
I've been waiting for this to become an issue since I saw the first bottle of it. I drink 12-15 cups of coffee per day. The body reacts MORE to a change of caffeine intake than the amount. When I am sick and only drink a cup or two, I get what I call a headache from hell. Of course, Doc wants me to cut back. The point....excessive caffeine use by itself does not throw the system out of whack to the point of emergency or death.
My Doc thinks (and I know he's right) the only safe way to boost energy is proper diet, enough sleep and exercise. The energy drink issue is evidence of the American mindset of immediate gratification, and "there must be a fix for everything".
Get it on the market and make $$$ before we know it's safe.....American way. It may well turn out we just need to be cautious and moderate or restrict it's use, but nowdays common sense is in short supply.
Ok I see a couple of flaws with the article. One regular 5 hour energy has the same amount of caffeine as a 6 oz cup of coffee. Extra strength has the same amount of caffeine as 12 oz of coffee or 2 cups. What 5 hour energy does have a huge dose of is vitamin b 12 and b 6 which I am not sure of the health effects of high doses of these vitamins is but it probably isnt good. The energy drinks with the high amounts of caffeine that everyone should worry about is the monsters and the full throttles and the others they sell in the 24 oz cans they have like the equivalent of something like 14 cans of pop in them.
The Monsters and such have less caffeine than a 16 ounce Starbucks coffee. (not even close to the 14 cans of pop you state). Over 8 billion have been sold and the only problems have arisen when those under 18 consume more than 1 can. The directions say not for use under 18 years old. There have been less than 10 medical issues reported. Bottom line is that there is no statistical correlation between the "energy drinks" and medical issues. Far more likely those that suffered medical issues had underlying problems (and failed to follow the directions).
Where I got the 14 cans of pop was from an article from October 23 about the FDA investigation into the energy drink Monster It was an nbc vitals news article. The girl that died did have an underlying medical condition.
I do agree that people should read labels but how many people do and you cannot say that caffiene is not bad for you especially in large amounts even coffee. Not outright death but long term. But unlike coffee which most people drink in the morning to give a kick energy drinks because of the flavoring and marketing of the companies and the sponsorships of many teen activities kids buy them up and drink them like water there is no age limit to buy a monster. I think the FDA should direct states to set limits on the amount of caffeine in all beverages or the marketing of energy drinks should have limits as to what age groups they target like they did on cigarrettes and alchohol.