Monster Energy drink maker sued over girl's death
The family of a 14-year-old US girl is suing the maker of the drink Monster Energy, after the teenager, who had a pre-existing heart condition, died after consuming two cans of it.
Her family is suing the company for failing to warn about the product's dangers.
The company says it does not believe the drink was responsible, but the US Food and Drug Administration is investigating five other deaths linked to Monster Energy.
The energy boost the drink promises comes from caffeine and guarana, with some energy drinks like Red Bull, Mother and Monster containing more than three times the level of caffeine of standard cola.
Monster Energy Australasia refused to comment on the case, directing PM's inquiries to the US.
Bur Dr Naren Gunja, the medical director at the Westmead Children's Hospital's Poisons Information Centre, says the drinks can affect people with heart conditions.
"They can contain somewhere around 30 milligrams for every 100 millilitres. On top of that they may also have guarana extract which contains caffeine which may not be in the calculations of some energy drinks," he said.
Monster Energy says it does not believe the drink was responsible for the girl's death.
'Cardiac palpitations'
"I don't know the particulars and whether this drink is the cause of this young woman's death. But we do know that people have various susceptibilities to energy drinks and the caffeine content in them.
"So people with underlying heart disease, maybe, those people who have differing susceptibilities."
Dr Gunja says a 2010 study found the poisons helpline received 65 calls from people concerned about the consumption of energy drinks.
"One third of the time these people needed to go into hospital and be checked out because it was something more serious such as cardiac palpitations which may be a sign of an arrhythmia or chest pain which may be a sign of heart attacks," he said.
A working group has been set up to review the guidelines surrounding the addition of caffeine to food.
No-one from the Department of Health and Ageing was available for an interview, but a spokeswoman did release a statement.
"The review of the policy guideline on caffeine has been and will continue to consider global developments in information relating to caffeinated products, including energy drinks, and regulatory approaches being taken in similar countries," the statement said.
The working group's paper is to be made available for public comment early next year.
Source: ABC News, 24 October 2012
