The 2-ounce 5-hour Energy Drink is a super strong dose of caffeine and sugar that boasts of its ability to keep you awake.
The energy drink is popular among cabbies, truck drivers, those with multiple jobs, college students and of course, club kids. But are these drinks deadly?
According to ConsumerLab, there are approximately 207 milligrams of caffeine in one 5-Hour Energy (2-ounces), more than twice the milligrams of Red Bull’s 8.4 ounce can. The company is not required by law to lists its ingredients as it is labeled as a dietary supplement.
Thirteen deaths have been reported to the Food and Drug Administration as consumers have reported experiencing side effects after drinking the dietary supplemental drink; also, the FDA states that there have been 92 patient reports, including 33 hospitalizations, classified as “adverse events.”
The FDA states that although “adverse events” have been reported, there isn’t a clear case of cause-and-effect between the drink and the deaths.
Thus, the FDA is investigating the drink because it is the law: “If we find a relationship between consumption of the product and harm, FDA will take appropriate action to reduce or eliminate the risk,” the FDA said in a statement. “While the FDA investigates all reports to the best of its ability, it does not always have access to all the information needed to conclusively determine the cause of the event.”
The distributor of 5-hour ENERGY, Living Essentials LLC, said in a statement: “We recommend on product labels and the 5-hour ENERGY website that individuals consume no more than two bottles of 5-hour ENERGY shots per day, spaced several hours apart. Consumers who have caffeine sensitivities should consult with a physician before taking and can consider the ‘decaf’ version.”
