They’re the neon-coloured fizzy drinks found in gas stations, pharmacies and grocery stores, and are increasingly marketed to young children – but are they safe for their consumption?
With names like Full Throttle, Monster, Tab Energy, and Red Bull, energy drinks claim to “make you more alert and give you energy” - but at what cost?
According to experts, most are packed with caffeine and sugar, and can also contain varying ingredients that include taurine, an organic acid, vitamins and herbs. They can be conveniently found anywhere customers typically buy beverages, and with their flashy packaging and strategic placement next to juices and sports drinks they are proving to be a top choice with teens and pre-teens.
The problem with these kinds of drinks, however, is that they can pose serious health risks to children and adolescents and should require stronger warning labels, according to a Canadian Medical Association Journal’s (CMAJ) recent editorial.
“Caffeine loaded energy drinks have now crossed the line from beverages to drugs delivered as tasty syrups,” wrote Drs. Paul Hebert, Noni MacDonald and Matthew Stanbrook, in their editorial, published in the CMAJ’s July edition.
“However, because energy drinks are regulated as foods, the manufacturers are only required to list ingredients according to standard food formats. The total caffeine content or equivalent in cups of coffee are nowhere to be seen. There are no health warnings.”
In Canada, caffeine does not have to be listed on labels unless it has been added to the product separately as a pure substance. That means that consumers of energy drinks, especially young people, can develop serious side effects from high caffeine consumption, and become dependent on such products.
Health concerns of caffeine intake in children and adolescents
According to Dr. Hébert, who is a critical care physician and editorialist with the Canadian Medical Association Journal, acute caffeine intoxication can cause a multitude of symptoms. The can include the following:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Heart palpitations
- GI (gastrointestinal) upset
- Potential heart arrhythmia
- Feelings of anxiety and nervousness
- Feelings of being hyper-energized
- Irritability
- Loss of sleep
Health Canada has received several dozen reports of adverse reactions linked to energy drinks, 15 of which were cardiac events. The public health organization has encouraged the public to tell them about suspected adverse reactions to energy drinks and other natural health products following a recent report of a student who suffered a seizure.