5-Hour Energy Cited In 13 Deaths; FDA Investigates
The popular caffeine beverage 5-Hour Energy is cited to a number of deaths within the past few years.
Reports received by the Food and Drug Administration link the drink to 13 deaths within the past four years. Shelly Burgess, spokesperson for the FDA, told Bloomberg that the energy drink was linked to 92 adverse event reports that included 32 people requiring hospitalization. The 13 deaths are under investigation to determine if 5-Hour Energy was somehow responsible.
The beverage is distributed by Michigan-based Living Essentials LLC. A statement was released by the company saying the following: "It is important to note that submitting a serious adverse event report to the FDA, according the agency itself, is not construed by FDA as an admission that the dietary supplement was involved, caused or contributed to the adverse event being reported."
The amount of caffeine in the canned drinks may be more than what is listed on the label, according to a new study released by Consumer Reports. The report found the amount of caffeine was not specified in 11 of the 27 best-selling energy drinks in the United States, including 5-Hour Energy.
The other 16 drinks listed the amount of caffeine, but it wasn't always the correct figure. Five of the 16 drinks had caffeine with an average of 20 percent more than the listed amount.
The report was cited by Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill) and Richard Blumenthal, (D-Conn) who are urging the FDA to regulate the production and sale of energy drinks, according to USA Today. The two U.S. senators said the high amounts of caffeine are dangerous and addictive.
The ranges for caffeine levels started at around six milligrams per serving found in Living Essentials popular 5-Hour Energy Decaf and went up to 242 milligrams for their highly potent 5-Hour Energy Extra Strength.
