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San Francisco’s city attorney and New York’s attorney general are joining forces to investigate allegations that Monster Beverage is marketing its highly caffeinated drinks to children.
The recently revealed alliance was formed last month, around the same time a federal judge tossed out a lawsuit Monster filed seeking to stop San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera’s investigation of the energy drink maker.
Herrera then filed a lawsuit accusing Corona, Calif.-based Monster Beverage Corp. of misbranding its energy drinks and marketing them to minors.
The parents of 14-year-old Anais Fournier filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the company last year. The girl had pre-existing health problems, but her parents claim her death was caused by the two 24-ounce Monster Energy Drinks she had consumed within a 24-hour period.
According to the Mayco Clinic, two 24-ounce Monster Energy drinks contain 480 milligrams of caffeine. That’s the equivalent of about five eight-ounce cups of coffee, or about 14 cans of cola.
While the FDA regulates the amount of caffeine in soft drinks, it does not with energy drinks, which are sold as dietary supplements.
Monster has repeatedly said its drinks are safe. The company released the following statement Wednesday: “The sale and consumption of more than 10 billion Monster energy drinks worldwide over more than 11 years has shown that our products are safe. Contrary to allegations, they are not “highly caffeinated” and they are not marketed to children. In fact, a 16-ounce Monster Energy drink contains less than half the caffeine of a 16-oz (medium) size cup of Starbucks brewed coffee. Monster’s labels state: ‘Consume responsibly: Not recommended for children, people sensitive to caffeine, pregnant women or women who are nursing.'”
AP/ABC/Canadajournal
