US probe into caffeine energy drink: 'links' to 5 deaths
The producers of caffeine energy drink, Monster, are going to be investigated in America. It comes as a mother in Maryland is suing the firm over her teenage daughter's death: the 14-year-old died last December, within 24 hours after downing two 24 fluid ounce cans of the drink. The US Food and Drug administration says Anais Fournier's death is now the fifth case since 2004 which has linked the firm's drinks to deaths. The FDA told the FT that 'it continues to evaluate the emerging science on a variety of ingredients, including caffeine'.
Anais's mother, Wendy Crossland showed a local TV crew around her home. The youngster suffered a cardiac arrest and was brain dead six days later. A post-mortem examination showed that Anais had an underlying and inherited heart condition. Her mother is now urging for stricter rules for producers of drinks which contain considerably higher levels of caffeine than a can of cola.
Ms Crossland believes there should be more testing these kind of drinks. Monster maintains their drink was not responsible for Ms Fournier's death and said quote 'it was unaware of any fatality' caused by any of its drinks.