The federal
government and the New York Attorney General's office are investigating claims
that drink 5-Hour Energy led to 13 deaths and 33 hospitalizations over the past
four years.
The popular
energy shot – which comes in 2 oz. packages and packs a powerful caffeine
punch, equal to two cups of coffee -- led the way in this new and growing
energy drink segment over the past eight years. Now government officials are
investigating whether the product, made by Michigan-based Living Essentials,
does much more.
"If
someone is to use multiple cans, now is when we start to see some of the side
effects," Dr. Sean Patrick Nord, USC Director of the Section of
Toxicology, told ABC News. "You're getting astronomical amounts, 30 to 40
cups of coffee."
The recent
FDA filings mark the second time in a month the administration has confirmed it
is investigating claims that energy drinks are causing fatal reactions. In
October, Monster energy, another popular drink that contains even more
caffeine, was allegedly linked to five deaths.
The
manufacturers point out that these are just claims, and there is no proven link
between the drinks and the deaths.
In a
statement overnight, 5-hour Energy said the product is "intended for busy
adults." The company says its compact product contains "about as much
caffeine as a cup of the leading premium coffee."
During an
interview this September, Manoj Bhargava, the founder and CEO of 5-Hour Energy,
told ABC News "Nightline" that when used as directed, the caffeine in his product doesn't
do any harm.
"It's
overblown. When it's in small quantities … It's like this -- water is good, but
if you have too much you drown," he said.
Most
experts say the fatal dose of caffeine for an adult would be almost impossible
to drink – actually 50 to 60 times of what is contained in an energy drink. But
critics worry about children with underlying heart problems drinking them, and
are warning that energy drinks may be more hazardous than coffee because of the
temperature.
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