A jolt to the system: energy drinks fuel concerns
Energy drinks are among the most popular on the market, but there is growing concern about their potentially harmful effects, says Charley Lanyon
When does a stimulating drink become dangerous, even fatal? That's what the US Food and Drug Administration is trying to find out as it investigates a possible link between so-called energy drinks and at least 18 deaths in the United States in recent years.
Energy drinks contain a number of stimulants that claim to increase one's attention span and stamina, and even improve sporting performance. But there is growing concern about their harmful effects even as their popularity rises worldwide.
The FDA's investigation is focused, in particular, on two energy drinks: 5-Hour Energy, which may be linked to the deaths of 13 people in the past four years; and Monster, which may have contributed to five other deaths.
Global energy drink consumption rose 14 per cent year on year in 2011 to 4.8 billion litres - more than 1.5 billion litres higher than in 2007, according to a report from leading food and drink consultancy Zenith International, released in February. Consumption has grown by an average of 10 per cent a year over the past five years.
China ranked third for consumption among the 57 countries covered by the report. North America is still the leading consumer, with 36 per cent of global volume in 2011, followed by the Asia-Pacific region at 22 per cent. By 2016, Zenith estimates, global market consumption volumes will have risen 35 per cent to 6.5 billion litres.
This rise in consumption of drinks that may not be safe is a worrying trend. In recent years, the Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety notes, several countries have reported possible links between the consumption of energy drinks and cases of cardiac dysrhythmia, seizures, kidney failure and fatalities. Such incidents generally involved improper intake of the beverages, such as drinking them with alcohol, or in greater quantities than recommended.