The FDA confirmed reports that 5-hour Energy may have been involved in 13 deaths over the past four years. FDA spokeswoman Shelly Burgess said that 5-hour Energy, sold by Living Essentials, has been mentioned in some 90 FDA filings since 2009, including more than 30 that involved serious or life-threatening events like heart attacks, convulsions, and in one case, a spontaneous abortion.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reported late last year that more than 13,000 emergency room visits in 2009 were associated with energy drinks alone.
The highly caffeinated beverages are the fastest-growing type of drink in the United States, with sales increasing 17 percent last year to about $9 billion, according to Beverage Digest.
See full report from the New York Times
here.
