An influencer-backed energy drink that has earned viral popularity among children is facing scrutiny from lawmakers and health experts over its potentially dangerous levels of caffeine.
Advertising itself as zero sugar and vegan, the neon-colored cans are among a growing number of energy drinks with elevated levels of caffeine; in PRIME’s case, 200 milligrams per 12 ounces, equivalent to about half a dozen Coke cans or nearly two Red Bulls.
I was curious what a "cup of coffee" is, and according to healthline that would be about 8oz (~227ml) which could deliver anywhere from 70-140mg of caffeine depending on type of coffee and how you brew.
So if you drink a lot of coffee (like me) you consume a shit ton of caffeine... damn.
The weird part is the lacking regulations for showing what amount of caffeine is appropriate for a normal daily value, as they do with all the other components of foods and drinks. That should be the thing they update to apply to all energy drinks.
The excuse used is that caffeine isn't a nutrient, but that sounds like one of the reasons on why it should be included on the labels. Some labels do include it, but in a much less prominent way, as if they're trying to hide it. The regulations should make caffeine be the required most prominent thing on labels for energy drinks, coffee, ect where the caffeine is the literal point of them.
TBF there is a PRIME "hydration drink" too akin to Gatorade. They are both labeled the same, and I can see a parent confusing them. No matter what vessel I buy a Coke in, it's still the same beverage. Why would anyone assume differently with PRIME?
Our tax dollars at work. You'd think the FDA would have more important things to do with their time and resources than investigate a product that literally lists it's ingredients on the side.