Red Bull named in reports to FDA
Red Bull energy drinks were named in 21 adverse event reports submitted to the United States Food and Drug Administration. No deaths were cited.
- Published: 18/11/2012 at 03:17 PM
- Newspaper section: breakingnews
Photo by Rattaseema Pongsen
The events date to 2004 and in some cases involved increased heart rate and abdominal pain, according to a list posted on Sunday on the FDA’s website. The reports cited four hospitalisations. The incidents are voluntarily reported and are deemed allegations with no conclusion drawn until investigations are completed.
The FDA released reports on Saturday for other energy drink makers -- Rockstar Inc, Monster Beverage Corp (MNST), and Living Essentials LLC's 5-Hour Energy products -- which cited more damning evidence. The agency is making the reports public as they become available, Shelly Burgess, an FDA spokeswoman, said.
5-Hour Energy was cited in 92 reports, including 33 hospitalisations and 13 deaths, according to the data covering Jan. 1, 2004, to Oct. 23, 2012. Monster products were in 40 reports, with 20 hospital stays and five deaths. Rockstar was listed in 13 reports, including four hospitaliations. No deaths were attributed to Rockstar.
Monster and competitors such as PepsiCo Inc's AMP Energy, for which the FDA has not released data yet, are not bound by the agency's guidelines for caffeine in sodas because energy drinks are often sold as dietary supplements. Soda typically can have as many as 71 milligrammes of caffeine per 12 ounces for the FDA to consider it safe. The FDA may require companies to prove caffeine levels are safe if they exceed the guideline.
A Red Bull drink has 80 milligrammes of caffeine, the same as an average cup of coffee, according to the product's website.
About the author
- Writer: Bloomberg News
- Position: News agency