Calls To Ban Energy Drinks For Kids Under Age 18
Rising Caffeine Levels Have Medical Professionals Calling For New Regulations
Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up!
Good morning everyone,
The remnants of Hurricane Idalia will finish making their way through the Carolinas early today, after pounding Florida’s Big Bend (where the panhandle meets the peninsula) yesterday morning. The storm flooded entire neighborhoods near the coast, spawned tornadoes and turned roads into rivers and cars into boats.
It made landfall as a Category 3 storm at low tide Wednesday morning, sparing the state from some of the worst possible forecasted damages. No official hurricane-related deaths were officially confirmed in Florida as of last night, but two people died in separate weather-related car accidents hours before landfall.
Based on initial estimates, recovery in some coastal areas could take months.
Stay safe,
Mosheh, Jill, & Courtney
🎙The Mo News Podcast: Talking about how companies are “quiet cutting” workers; Mitch McConnell’s latest health scare; and the big headlines out of the US Open.
🗞 KIDS AND CAFFEINE: ENERGY DRINK DANGER
Alarm bells are ringing, this time with a new wake up call: the caffeine level in some energy drinks may have risen to unsafe levels.
THE GIST
Energy drinks are meant to sharpen concentration and boost your focus, but could it be too much of a good thing, especially for kids? Apparently so.
A number of parents and pediatricians are calling for new regulations when it comes to highly-caffeinated energy drinks. They argue that the beverages contain unhealthy amounts of caffeine, especially for children and teens— and they want the government to implement standards similar to ones in place for cigarettes: ban their sale to minors under the age 18.
HARMFUL SIDE EFFECTS
In recent years, the energy drink industry has become a $19 billion market, with companies like Pepsi and Gatorade investing in new beverages.
A recent study from the National Institutes of Health found that next to multivitamins, energy drinks are the most popular dietary supplement consumed by American teens and young adults. Att the same time, they have been linked to tens of thousands of ER visits in recent years. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry argues that there is no proven safe dose of caffeine for children.
Large amounts of caffeine may cause:
Rapid heart rate
Heart palpitations
Heartbeat irregularities
Spike in blood pressure
Sleep disorders
Headaches
Anxiety
CAFFEINE COMPARISON
The cans pack a serious punch. A 12 oz can of Prime Energy drink or a Celsius energy drink both contain 200 milligrams of caffeine. That’s equal to:
2 Red Bulls
2 cups of coffee
6 cans of Coca-Cola.
And get this: a 12 oz can of Prime Energy drink which contains 200 milligrams of caffeine actually exceeds permissible caffeine limits in Canada, Australia and New Zealand. (Notably, the UK and US don’t have caffeine limits.)
Some other popular brands:
One 12 oz can of Kim Kardashian's Kimade energy drinks has 200 milligrams of caffeine
A 16 oz Monster Energy drink contains 160 milligrams of caffeine
A 16 oz can of Rockstar has 160 milligrams of caffeine
Serving size: The recommended caffeine consumption for adults is no more than 400 milligrams per day. Pediatricians say kids ages 12 to 18 should not consume more than 100 milligrams of caffeine per day, and that children under 12 should avoid caffeine completely.
DECEPTIVE MARKETING
Despite all this, they are being heavily marketed to young people. Or at least, they appear to be. And some of the newer brands, like Prime Energy and Kimade, have found a recipe for success: a variety of fruity or candy flavors — yes, flavors called Starburst, Skittles, and Sour Patch Kids — colorful cans, backing from major influencers. Add it all up, and products are flying off the shelves.
As more Americans look for what they believe are health-conscious beverages, companies are trying to cater to them and say they’ll boost energy, without the sugar or calories.
Other enticing marketing tactics are health-driven, like “low-calorie,” “low-sugar,” and even “calorie burning.”
The labels claim the beverages are made with healthier ingredients like ginger, green tea, electrolytes, or vitamins.
About a decade ago, the energy drink industry agreed to a set of principles that included disclosing on the packaging that the drinks were not recommended for children, and agreeing not to sell or market the products in schools. But critics argue marketing tactics are clearly targeting younger consumers.
Prime Energy’s founders — social media influencers Logan Paul and KSI — insist they are not marketing their drink to kids, and instead claim retailers should police sales.
TIME TO CHECK IDS FOR ENERGY DRINKS?
Retailer GNC has set an 18+ age limit restriction to purchase energy drinks, according to reporting from Reuters.
Meanwhile, Target and Walmart, as well as specialty chains like the Vitamin Shoppe, carry many of these drinks, but typically do not verify buyers' ages. That is something that some parents and pediatricians say should become common practice.
✔︎ Mo News Reality Check: There are no nationwide regulations in either the U.S. or the UK that ban the sale of highly caffeinated energy drinks. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) recently asked the FDA to investigate the caffeine content in Prime Energy, as well as examine its marketing strategy toward minors.
Last month, Canada recalled six major energy drinks — including Prime and Celsius — for labeling violations.
⏳ SPEED READ
🚨NATION
📌 Senator Mitch McConnell appears to freeze (again) while speaking with reporters in Kentucky (NBC)
📌 Ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick found not competent to stand trial - sexual abuse case dismissed (THE BOSTON GLOBE)
📌 Trump says he is open to Vivek Ramaswamy as his VP nominee, but suggests that he try to be less “controversial” (FOX)
📌 FDA sends warning letters to three infant formula makers (THE HILL)
📌 Canada issues warning for LGBTQ travelers in the United States (ABC)
🌎 AROUND THE WORLD
📌 Russia and North Korea in ‘actively advancing’ talks on weapons (NY TIMES)
📌 Gabon officers declare military coup, President Ali Bongo detained (REUTERS)
📌 Kremlin says death of Wagner mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin may not have been accidental (FOX)
📌 China region offers cash rewards for newlyweds if bride is UNDER age 25 (GUARDIAN)
📌 Chile announces plan to search for dictator’s victims, 50 years after coup (NY TIMES)
📱SCIENCE, BUSINESS & TECH
📌 Google Pixel 8 launch date set for October 4 (ANDROID POLICE)
📌 US government investigating Tesla over “Secret Glass House Project” for Elon Musk (WSJ)
📌 Warren Buffett’s company reaches new heights as billionaire turns 93 years old this week (CNBC)
📌 India to launch mission to study the sun - days after successful moon landing (CNBC)
🎬 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
📌 Prince Harry surprises fans at "Heart of Invictus" screening (POP SUGAR)
📌 Netflix 2023 Fall movie release dates set (COMING SOON)
📌 Venus Williams suffers first-round US Open defeat, Ons Jabeur battles through illness to progress (CNN)
📌 Selena Gomez deletes ‘Only Murders’ Instagram post after being accused of breaking SAG-AFTRA strike rules (VARIETY)
🗓 ON THIS DAY: AUGUST 31
1935: President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Neutrality Act, which he called an “expression of the desire…to avoid any action which might involve [the U.S.] in war.” The signing came at a time when newly installed fascist governments in Europe were beginning to beat the drums of war. The US would not officially enter WWII more than two years into the war, after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in December 1941.
1966: The Harrier “jump-jet” fighter-bomber made its first flight.
1997: Diana, Princess of Wales, died of injuries sustained in a car crash in Paris.
2001: The series finale of ‘Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood’ airs on PBS. He would pass way from cancer 18 months later. Watch his final message HERE.