(Scypre.com) – Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is urging the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to conduct an investigation into an energy drink endorsed by popular YouTube stars Logan Paul and KSI. Schumer claims that the drink, called PRIME Energy, contains an excessive amount of caffeine and appears to target children through its marketing on social media.
PRIME Energy contains 200 milligrams of caffeine, which is equivalent to more than two cups of coffee, approximately six cans of Coca-Cola, or 2.5 cans of Red Bull. Experts in pediatric nutrition, such as Dr. Ran Goldman from the University of British Columbia, assert that even small amounts of caffeine can have adverse effects on children. These effects include anxiety, jitters, decreased appetite, increased heart rate, and elevated blood pressure.
Chenin Nickel, an assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition at the University of Nevada, Reno, warns that excessive consumption of caffeine can lead to an overdose, causing seizures, abnormal heart rhythms, coma, and even death.
According to Nickel, caffeine is a stimulant that affects the central nervous system. The fact that PRIME Energy is specifically marketed towards children under 18 concerns Schumer, who emphasizes that the product contains significantly more caffeine than other popular energy drinks like Monster or Red Bull.
Logan Paul and KSI launched the PRIME beverage brand, introducing PRIME Hydration as their first product, which does not contain caffeine. However, PRIME Energy was released in January and contains similar caffeine levels to other energy drinks such as 5-hour Energy and Ghost. Schumer highlights that PRIME Energy’s marketing targets children under 18, contrasting it with Red Bull, which has a broader consumer base.
PRIME’s representatives state that their top priority is consumer safety and express willingness to engage in discussions with the FDA or any other organization regarding necessary industry changes to ensure consumer protection. They claim that PRIME Energy contains a comparable amount of caffeine to other top-selling energy drinks within the legal limits of the countries where it is sold.
In the United States, many energy drinks are classified as dietary supplements, allowing companies to manufacture and sell them without FDA notification.
Consequently, these beverages are challenging to regulate, although the FDA can still restrict ingredients that pose significant health risks or require modifications to product labeling. The FDA states that healthy adults can safely consume up to 400 milligrams of caffeine per day, equivalent to four or five cups of coffee.
However, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises against caffeine consumption among children due to its addictive nature and potential to impede brain development. They specifically discourage the consumption of caffeinated energy drinks, emphasizing that they offer no health benefits over water and often contain excessive sugar and calories.
Dr. Goldman frequently treats young patients with sleep disturbances caused by energy drink consumption. This poses a significant risk, especially for teenage drivers, as it can impair their reaction time. Additionally, when combined with ADHD medications, energy drinks can elevate heart rates in children.
Dr. Goldman also notes that adolescents in his emergency department often cite social media influence as a reason for consuming energy drinks. These beverages are easily accessible to kids since they are sold in grocery stores.
Schumer expressed concern that children may be consuming PRIME Energy without their parents’ knowledge, considering it a popular trend and status symbol among kids this summer. According to the National Institutes of Health, energy drinks rank as the most popular dietary supplement among U.S. teenagers and young adults, second only to multivitamins.
A 2022 analysis of TikTok videos revealed that energy drinks were portrayed positively and generated high levels of engagement, potentially encouraging increased consumption among minors.