Evidence Requested to Substantiate Safety of Monster Energy Drinks

The City of San Francisco is asking the makers of Monster energy drinks to prove marketing claims that suggest the highly caffeinated drinks are safe for children, even when consumed in large amounts. 

The challenge comes from the San Francisco city attorney, following Monster Beverage’s efforts to blunt bad publicity it has faced in recent weeks after the filing of a wrongful death lawsuit by the family of a 14-year-old girl who suffered a cardiac arrest after drinking two 24-ounce cans of Monster in 24 hours killed her.

Monster Energy Drinks are widely marketed to teens and young adults, with statements claiming that users “can never get too much of a good thing!”

That statement, however, may run afoul of California laws, San Francisco officials warned. It is illegal for companies to make misleading advertising claims in California that are supposed to be based on clinical data.

According to a report by the New York Times, the city sent a letter to the company last week, asking that it provide clinical data to back up the claim that you could never drink too much Monster Energy.

Monster Energy is the brand-name for a popular energy drink that combines high amounts of caffeine with other stimulants, such as guarana and taurine, to increase energy and stamina.  However, concerns have emerged in recent years about the side effects of Monter Energy drinks, which contain 240 milligrams of caffeine in a 24 ounce can.

Prior research has suggested that caffeine overdose can result in heart attacks, cardiac arrhythmias and death after doses ranging from 200 to 400 milligrams, and Monster Energy drinks are aggressively promoted to teens and young adults, who often consume multiple cans in short periods of time to provide a “caffeine buzz” or induced burst of energy.

The FDA has received at least 37 adverse event reports involving Monster drinks since 2004, including at least five deaths reported over the past year and a sixth reported in 2009.

Last month, the family of Anais Fournier filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Monster Beverage Corp. in Superior Court in California. According to the complaint, Fournier died after drinking two cans of Monster Energy. She was in an induced coma for six days in an effort to reduce brain swelling before being removed from life support.

A medical examination indicated that she died of cardia arrhythmia due to caffeine toxicity. Each of the cans of Monster she drank had the equivalent amount of caffeine of seven cans of Coca Cola.

Caffeine misuse is commonly related to cardiac events such as heart attacks, arrhythmia, and strokes. In humans, caffeine acts as a central nervous system stimulant, temporarily warding off drowsiness and restoring alertness. Caffeine overdose symptoms are usually recognized by signs of jitters, nausea, anxiety, dizziness, and sometimes vomiting which are best warded off by ingestion of water.

Photo Courtesy of stevendepolo / CC by 2.0