FDA asked to investigate Logan Paul and KSI’s energy drink PRIME due to concerns that each drink packs the same amount of caffeine as 6 Coke cans.
An influencer-backed energy drink that has earned viral popularity among children is facing scrutiny from lawmakers and health experts over its potentially dangerous levels of caffeine.
On Sunday, Senator Chuck Schumer called on the Food and Drug Administration to investigate Prime, a beverage brand founded by the YouTube stars Logan Paul and KSI that has become something of an obsession among the influencers’ legions of young followers.
Schumer said cans of Prime Energy drinks contain more than double the caffeine of a can of Red Bull and six times more caffeine than a can of Coca-Cola. He warned parents the drink is gaining popularity on social media. The company does not recommend the drinks for anyone under the age of 18, according to information on its website. Schumer claimed marketing for the beverage is tempting for minors.
Speaking at a news conference in New York on Sunday, Schumer said, “This stuff called Prime … at just 12 ounces Prime has an eye-popping level of caffeine and that’s giving parents and doctors the jitters for the kids that are targets. Here’s the other problem, most parents haven’t even heard of this stuff that their kids are begging for.”
Backed by two of YouTube’s best known stars, Prime was an immediate sensation when it launched last year, prompting long lines in grocery stores and reports of school yard resale markets.
Advertising itself as zero sugar and vegan, the neon-colored cans are among a growing number of energy drinks with elevated levels of caffeine; in Prime’s case, 200 milligrams per 12 ounces, equivalent to about half a dozen Coke cans or nearly two Red Bulls.
That high content prompted bans from some schools in the United Kingdom and Australia where some pediatricians warned of possible health impacts on young children such as heart problems, anxiety, and digestive issues.
“Prime is born from the reels of social media and the enigmatic world of influencers,” Schumer said. “Kids see it on their phones as they scroll and then they actually have a need for it.”
Speaking at the same news conference, Dr. Edith R. Bracho-Sanchez said high amounts of caffeine can cause children to have headaches, jitters, anxiety, nervousness, and sleeping problems.
“What this drink is giving you is a caffeine rush, it is a high, followed by a crash,” Dr. Bracho-Sanchez said.
CNN has reached out to Prime for response. On the company’s website, a fact page states, “Prime Energy contains 200mg of caffeine, per 12 oz. can. Prime Energy is not recommended for children under the age of 18, women who are pregnant or nursing or individuals who are sensitive to caffeine.”
