According to the New York Times, the Food and Drug Administration has recently released incident reports linking the highly caffeinated Monster Energy drinks to five deaths and 1 non-fatal heart attack.
The reports, which were filed between 2004 and 2012, were obtained via the Freedom of Information Act by the mother of a 14-year old Maryland girl who died from heart arrhythmia after consuming large cans of Monster Energy drink over two consecutive days. Her official cause of death was attributed to “caffeine toxicity,” raising questions of whether the government should enforce caffeine levels in energy drinks, as well as what responsibility the manufacturers of such drinks should have to a public that trusts them to provide a safe product.
While cans of Monster Energy are labeled with warnings that the drinks are not suitable for children under 12 or those with caffeine “sensitivity,” there is currently no federal requirement for companies to disclose caffeine levels in their beverages. Energy drinks can also be marketed as dietary supplements, which have different rules for labeling and ingredients than standard drinks.
If you or a loved one has suffered from heart problems after consuming a highly caffeinated energy drink, contact the product liability attorneys at Hodes Milman to find out your rights. Call us today (949) 640-8222.
