However, concerns have emerged in recent years about the potential side effects of energy drinks may pose, especially among children and young adults who are typically encouraged to consume large amounts of the beverage. Monster Energy and other competing products, such as Red Bull, Rockstar and 5 Hour Energy, combine high amounts of caffeine with other stimulants, such as guarana and taurine, to increase energy and stamina. Concerns Raised Over Caffeine Side Effects However, Red Bull, the second leading energy drink by volume after Monster, is already treated as a beverage. Many other energy drinks also use dietary supplement designations to avoid federal oversight.
Because of the dietary supplement designation, the FDA has not required testing for the highly caffeinated energy drink to establish that it is safe for consumers. The designation also allows the manufacturer to sell the energy drink without listing the ingredients or conforming to other food safety regulations.Ĭritics have indicated that Monster energy drinks are promoted as though they are a standard soft-drink or beverage, which leads to the assumption by consumers that there is federal oversight into the manufacture and composition. To date, Monster energy drinks have been classified as a dietary supplement, which allows the manufacturer to avoid FDA regulation. The designation change means that Monster energy drinks will be qualified as a food item by the FDA, and will list “Nutritional Facts” instead of the current “Supplemental Facts.” The company will also reveal the caffeine content and will be restricted to ingredients that the FDA considers “generally recognized as safe.”ĭietary Supplement Label Gives Manufacturers Wide Regulatory Leeway The change comes as the drink maker faces a number of lawsuits over Monster Energy, which allege that the beverage poses potential risks that are not adequately disclosed.
The labeling change was disclosed this week in Beverage Digest, an industry trade publication, after an interview with Monster Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rodney Sacks. The move comes after the manufacturer has faced sharp criticism amid mounting concerns about the risk of sever and potentially life-threatening health problems from Monster energy drinks. Monster energy drinks will soon be classified as a beverage, dropping the dietary supplement label, which has allowed the manufacturer to sell the drink without disclosing the amounts of caffeine and other stimulants it contains.