A US senator wants the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate Logan Paul’s energy drink PRIME, which reportedly contains the caffeine equivalent of six cans of Coca-Cola in a single can.
Democrat Charles Schumer fears the brand, founded by YouTubers Logan Paul and KSI, is too attractive to teens who might then want to consume it, CBS News reported Monday.
A 12-ounce can of PRIME Energy is said to contain 200 milligrams of caffeine, which is the equivalent of two Red Bulls.
“Who is the main target of PRIME? Adolescents under the age of 18,” suggested the senator.
“Kids see it on their phones when they’re scrolling, and then they actually need it,” Schumer added. “The problem is that this product contains so much caffeine that it puts Red Bull to shame.”
There is still a warning on the drink, which states that the can is “not recommended for persons under the age of 18”.
“As a brand, consumer safety is our top priority. We are therefore prepared to discuss with the FDA or any other organization the proposed industry changes they deem necessary to protect consumers,” a PRIME spokesperson told the media.
According to him, the energy drink “contains a level of caffeine comparable to other top-selling energy drinks while remaining within the legal limits of the countries in which it is sold.”
It’s not the first time the appeal of this drink to young people has been questioned.
In fact, some American schools have chosen to ban PRIME Energy in their facilities. In light of this decision, KSI responded on Twitter by noting that “we will be sending this and many other schools a truckload of Prime to address this egregious wrongdoing.”
According to the FDA, adults with no medical conditions can consume 400 milligrams of caffeine without noticing harmful effects. However, no amount has been set for minors.
Dangerous amounts of caffeine
Ingesting an energy drink with an impressive amount of mg caffeine can obviously be addictive. As in a vicious circle, the body gets used to caffeine, striving for the same desired effect, so the body always strives to consume more. For the pediatrician of the CHU Sainte-Justine and Dr. Olivier Drouin, this is a worrying phenomenon.
“Anytime we start addressing young adults with such large amounts of caffeine, it becomes concerning,” he notes.
It’s not safe, consuming such large amounts of caffeine can cause cardiac effects: palpitations, increased blood pressure, headaches, or gastrointestinal problems.
With social networks, the target group is even more vulnerable.
The pediatrician reminds that the combination of two psychostimulants, such as drugs for people with attention deficit disorders and caffeine, can be risky. “You see interaction problems. The problem is that it is not visible to doctors, pharmacists or parents. So it becomes difficult to prevent it…” he adds.