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发帖数: 2300 | 1 WASHINGTON (AP) - The Food and Drug Administration is investigating reports
of 13 deaths possibly linked to so-called "energy shots" and cautioning
consumers to talk to their doctors before they take them or other energy
drinks.
The agency has received 92 reports that cite illnesses, hospitalizations and
deaths after consumption of a product marketed as 5-Hour Energy. The FDA
has also received reports that cited the highly caffeinated Monster Energy
Drink in five deaths and one non-fatal heart attack.
Agency officials said the reports to the FDA from consumers, doctors and
others don't necessarily prove that the drinks caused the deaths or injuries
, but said they are investigating each one. In a statement, FDA officials
said they will take action if they can link the deaths to consumption of the
energy drink. Such action could include forcing the company to take the
drinks, often found at convenience store checkout counters, off the market.
FDA spokeswoman Shelly Burgess said the agency is cautioning consumers that
these "energy shots" or "energy drinks" are not alternatives to rest or
sleep.
"If someone is thinking about taking one of these products, they should
consult with their health care provider to ensure that there are no
underlying or undiagnosed medical conditions that could worsen as a result
of using them," Burgess said.
The agency doesn't individually regulate caffeinated drinks or supplements
such as the energy shots but can take action if they are proven to do harm.
Makers of caffeinated alcoholic drinks took those products off the market in
2010 after the FDA sent the companies warning letters saying that
combinations of caffeine and alcohol in the drinks was a public health
concern and could lead to alcohol poisoning, car accidents and assaults.
5-Hour Energy's small size can also be dangerous to consumers with
underlying conditions because it's easier to take several of them or mix
them with alcohol. Though it is liquid, the 5-Hour Energy "shot" is marketed
not as a drink but as a dietary supplement. FDA regulations require
supplement manufacturers themselves to be responsible for products' safety.
A spokeswoman for the company that makes the product, Michigan-based Living
Essentials, LLC, says 5-Hour Energy is a "compact-sized energy shot intended
for busy adults - it is not an energy drink, nor marketed as a beverage."
Elaine Lutz said the company is not aware of any deaths proven to have been
caused by their product. She said the company's website advises consumers to
drink no more than two bottles of the shots per day, spaced several hours
apart, and for new consumers to drink half a bottle to start.
The New York Times first reported that 13 deaths were linked to 5-Hour
Energy. |
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