Petition in circulation urging FDA to consider regulation of energy drinks

WASHINGTON Physicians and scientists—100 total—have joined together to back a letter sent to the Food and Drug Administration urging for examination of the high caffeine content of energy drinks, possible risks and effects on health for people, and possible regulation of the energy drink category.

Roland Griffiths, neuroscientist at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, wrote the letter which in Baltimore. The letter recommends that the FDA require drink makers to provide warning labels, limit the amount of caffeine and other stimulants added to drinks and tell the caffeine content on the can

In response to the letter, the American Beverage Association has released a statement that energy drinks with moderate amounts of caffeine shouldn’t be grouped with those “companies seeking attention and increased sales based solely on extreme names and caffeine content,” published reports said.

Five of the highly caffeinated energy drinks that were listed for examination are Amp, which contains 75 milligrams of caffeine per 8.4 ounces; Full Throttle, with 144 milligrams per 16 ounces; Monster which contains 160 milligrams per 16 ounces; Red Bull with 80 milligrams caffeine per 8.3 ounces; and Rockstar which has 160 milligrams of caffeine in every 16 ounce can.