Safety of Energy Drinks Questioned

Energy drinks are enormously popular here in the United States, especially with students. The safety of energy drinks has been highly debated, and there are plans to reintroduce a bill that would require supplement and energy drink makers to register more information about their products possible negative health effects. There have been numerous reports of possible harmful reactions and even deaths in association to the consumption of energy drinks. Leading physicians and public health professionals have written to the FDA Commissioner insisting that the caffeine in energy drinks should no longer be considered “generally safe” by the agency. The FDA has been reviewing the safety of energy drinks and is considering requiring labels that disclose the exact amount of caffeine the product contains, use limitations, and warnings about possible adverse health effects, which is rather like closing the barn door after the horse has got out, but at least the agency is taking a step in the right direction. Let’s hope that they aren’t “baby steps”, and that something is done sooner rather than later. Until then, it might be wise to consult your health care professional before you or your children partake of energy drinks.