October 26, 2012 – Five deaths between 2009 and 2012 could be attributed to the consumption of certain energy drinks of the California-based company Monster energy. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched an investigation to determine if the components of this type of product, including caffeine, are the cause.
The family of a 14-year-old girl who died in 2011 has also filed a complaint against the American company. The girl died of cardiac arrhythmia after drinking two 710 ml cans in less than 24 hours, which contained 490 mg of caffeine and 30 mg of guarana. No link has yet been established between the two events.
This consumption exceeds the recommendations issued by Health Canada for a person between the ages of 14 and 18, i.e. 2.5 mg of caffeine per kg of body weight for a maximum of 400 mg per day.
A very lucrative market
With nearly 20% of the market share, this type of product ranks third in terms of beverage sales in Canada. Adolescents and young adults are the main consumers. According to the Quebec survey on the health of high school youths 2010-2011 published by the Institut de la statistique du Québec, 43% of them have already consumed energy drinks.
The Association of Public Health of Quebec (ASPQ) is alarmed and asks the government “to prohibit the sale of energy drinks and derivative products at least 18 years old because of the potential risks to their health”.
Little known effects
Studies on the harmful effects of energy consumption are still few. In a document published in 2010, the National Institute of Public Health of Quebec (INSPQ) recommends carefully monitoring this relatively new phenomenon since it is constantly growing.
If this craze continues, some specialists believe that many health problems (cardiac, neurological, kidney, behavioral and overweight) could result. Even greater complications are added when these drinks are mixed with alcohol, an increasingly common fashion.
In Canada, it is the brand Red Bull which started the ball rolling in 1997. The other companies were quick to sniff out the good deal. In a few years, energy drinks have imposed themselves massively. By increasing the number of advertising campaigns where pleasure and stimulating power are highlighted, these companies are directly targeting young consumers. And it seems to be working.
Mélissa Archambault – Health Passport
