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Warning Labels for Energy Drinks?

by Kristen King on September 26th, 2008

red bull redbull energy drink(www.livelywomen.com) — Scientists at Johns Hopkins think energy drinks (like Red Bull and Monster) should have clear labels that outline their caffeine content so consumers can make smart decisions about what they’re drinking.

“Many of these drinks do not label the caffeine content,” [says Roland Griffiths, PhD, a professor of psychiatry and neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, and senior author of a new report on the beverages], and some energy drinks contain as much caffeine as found in 14 cans of soda.

…Although the FDA limits the caffeine contents of cola-type soft drinks to 71 milligrams per 12 fluid ounces, no such limit is required on energy drinks, Griffiths tells WebMD.

“Makers of so-called “energy” drinks generally market them as dietary supplements,” says Siobhan DeLancey, an FDA spokesperson. Dietary supplements are regulated differently than food. The FDA does not approve or review the products before they are marketed. (source)

You won’t believe the amount of caffeine per ounce (rounded to the nearest 100th) in some of these energy drinks and so-called mainstream caffeinated beverages.

Energy Drinks

  • Whoop Ass — 5.88 mg
  • Bomba Energy — 8.93 mg
  • Redbull — 9.64 mg
  • Tab Energy — 9.05 mg
  • Monster / Rockstar — 10 mg
  • No Fear — 10.89 mg
  • Wired X505 — 21.05 mg
  • Fixx — 25 mg

Mainstream Beverages

  • Canned or bottled tea — 1.67
  • Coca-Cola Classic — 2.88 mg
  • Pepsi Cola — 3.17 mg
  • Dr. Pepper — 3.42 mg
  • Mountain Dew — 4.5 mg
  • Brewed tea — 6.67 mg
  • Instant coffee — 11.67 mg
  • Brewed coffee — 16.67 mg

Can you imagine drinking something with 25 mg of caffeine PER OUNCE? That’s insane. For amount of caffeine in a standard serving, check out the WebMD article Energy Drinks: Hazardous to Your Health? which contains the listing I used to calculate the per-ounce amounts.

Do you consume energy drinks? If yes, which ones? If no, why not?

Contents © Copyright 2008 Kristen King

(image: Amazon.com)

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POSTED IN: Diet/Nutrition

7 opinions for Warning Labels for Energy Drinks?

  • Bradley P. White
    Sep 26, 2008 at 11:58 am

    Great article Kristen, Now lets look at all the ridiculous sugar that is in all these drinks! I have a series that I am going to do on adrenal fatigue, beverages like these only contribute to adrenal exhaustion as people use them as crutches to get through their day instead of getting more rest, nutrition, and exercise.

  • Grounded Fitness
    Sep 26, 2008 at 12:17 pm

    I have hyperthyroidism, so my body (and heart) run especially high. i drank a redbull and vodka at a bar once and seriously thought i was going to have a heart attack.

    I drink coffee all day long though, with no problems, so its frightening to me how much is in one of those little cans.

    Kelly Turner
    http://www.groundedfitness.com

  • Diane
    Sep 26, 2008 at 12:39 pm

    While I do think the amount should be on the label, I don’t think the amount in these drinks is that outrageous. Considering that a cup of coffee has about 100mg of caffeine, these energy drinks are right on in supplying the amount of 1-2 cups of coffee. If your body is used to several cups of coffee a day and you forget or run our or whatever, your body will need that amount to run at normal speed. It’s a drug like anything else…you build up a tolerance to it.

    With that said, it only takes an Arizona iced tea to get me going…so these drinks would be too much for me.

  • Kristen King
    Sep 26, 2008 at 12:46 pm

    Diane,

    Red Bull grosses me out, but it’s actually not that caffeinated, as you point out. Most of these have less than coffee! Even Fixx isn’t that bad, just about 9 mg more than coffee, but it comes in a 24-oz can if I’m not mistaken, and that’s a buttload of caffeine in one serving!!! Kinda scary…

    kk

  • sky
    Sep 26, 2008 at 11:08 pm

    Actually I agree that they should put the caffeine content on the cans - then we can decide if we really need that much or not. Especially if we let our kids drink a lot of it.

  • Diane Penna
    Sep 30, 2008 at 3:39 pm

    Today I found a new energy drink with about 150mg of caffeine (was on the label clearly) and NO sugar, AND it tasted good! It’s in a pink can and called “GoGirl” and I would recommend it to any woman wanting some energy without all the sugar.

    I am very sensitive to sugar, so was SO happy to find this!

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