ABA Denounces Energy Drinks Article

WASHINGTONThe American Beverage Association (ABA) issued a statement denouncing a recent literary review questioning the safety of energy drinks for teenagers and young adults as nothing more than a perpetuation of misinformation about energy drinks, their ingredients and the regulatory process.

Responding to "Health Effects of Energy Drinks on Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults" that appeared in the journal Pediatrics, Dr. Maureen Storey, senior vice president of science policy for the American Beverage Association, pointed out the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates energy drinks and their ingredients just like any other foods, beverages and supplements sold in the United States. She said the review misinterprets the data from a 2007 study by the American Association of Poison Control Centers, which reported more than 5,400 caffeine cases from pharmaceutical exposures, not exposure to caffeine from foods or beverages. (Pharmaceutical exposures refer to over-the-counter caffeine pills and other caffeinated medicines.)

According to the ABA statement: When it comes to caffeine, it's important to put the facts in perspective. Most mainstream energy drinks actually contain about half the caffeine of a similar size cup of coffeehouse coffee. In fact, young adults getting coffee from popular coffeehouses are getting about twice as much caffeine as they would from a similar size energy drink.

Importantly, children and teens are not large consumers of energy drinks. According to government data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination (NHANES) Survey, the caffeine consumed from energy drinks for those under the age of 18 is less than the caffeine derived from all other sources including soft drinks, coffee and teas. And total caffeine consumption from energy drinks among pre-teens is nearly zero. In fact, the data show that caffeine consumption from energy drinks for children and teens, on average, is far less than even one can of an energy drink per day."

Click here to read the ABAs complete response.