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October 2 4 , 2012
Monster Kills
FDA reports five deaths linked to
highly-caffeinated energy drink
HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) —
The highly caffeinated Monster
Energy Drink has been cited in five
deaths and one non-fatal heart at
tack, according to reports that the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
is investigating.
The reports claim that people had
adverse reactions after they con
sumed Monster Energy Drink, which
comes in 24-ounce cans and con
tains 240 milligrams of caffeine, or
seven times the amount of the caf
feine in a 12-ounce cola.
Although the FDA is investigat
ing the allegations, which date back
to 2004, the agency said the reports
don't necessarily prove that the
drinks caused the deaths or injuries.
"As with any reports of a death
or injury the agency receives, we
take them very seriously and inves
tigate diligently," Shelly Burgess
said in a statement.
News of the FDA's investigation
follows a filing last week of a wrong
ful death suit in Riverside, Calif., by
the p a re n ts o f a 1 4 -y ear-o ld
Hagerstown girl who died after drink
ing two, 24-ounce Monster Energy
Drinks in 24 hours.
An autopsy concluded that she
died of cardiac arrhythmia due to
caffeine toxicity and the medical
examiner also found that she had an
inherited disorder that can weaken
blood vessels. But the child's par
ents claim Monster failed to warn
about the risks of drinking its prod
ucts.
M o n s te r B e v e ra g e C o rp .,
which touts on its web site that
the M onster Energy D rink is a
"killer energy brew " and "the
m eanest energy supplem ent on
the planet," puts labels on cans
that state that the drinks are not
recom m ended for children and
people who are sensitive to caf
feine. The com pany, based in
Corona, Calif., did not immediately
respond to calls seeking com m ent
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on M onday, but said last week
that it is "unaware o f any fatality
anyw here that has been caused
by its drinks."
At a time when soda consum p
tion is declining, energy drinks
are becom ing more popular: Last
year, sales volum e for energy
drinks rose by nearly 17 percent.
M onster has benefited the most
from the rise in popularity. Last
year, M onster had a 35 percent
share o f the energy-drink m arket
based on volum e, while Red Bull
had 30 percent and R ockstar had
19 percent, according to B ever
age Digest.
The increase in popularity has
brought heightened scrutiny. The
levels of caffeine in the drinks have
raised worries: Although the FDA
caps the amount of caffeine in soda
to 0.02 percent, there is no such limit
for energy drinks.
Matthew Perrone reported from
W ashington.
.
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