Investigation into KSI and Logan Paul’s Prime energy drink?
US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has asked regulators to probe Prime energy drink launched by high-profile YouTubers KSI and Logan Paul.
Mr Schumer says the drink is being targeted at kids despite its high caffeine content.
Is Prime energy drink harmful for kids?
Prime Energy has 200mg of caffeine each can, which is nearly twice the quantity in rival energy drink Red Bull. Each drink can has a warning saying it is not advised for kids under 18.
However, Mr Schumer said that Prime Energy was packaged and sold “in the near identical form” as a caffeine-free beverage from the brand. As a result, a few parents had unknowingly purchased the caffeinated drink for their kids; he told journalists in New York on Sunday.
“The FDA [Food and Drug Administration] must investigate PRIME for its absurd caffeine content and its marketing targeting kids on social media,” he wrote on Twitter. Prime waited to answer a press request for comment.
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In 2022, Logan Paul and KSI – who have about 48 million YouTube followers between them – released the caffeine-free Prime Hydration beverage. It quickly became an online trend, sparking long lines and even headfirst dives into stock shelves.
The caffeinated Prime Energy drink was released in January this year. The business promotes it as being sugar-free and vegan.
A notice on each can of the drink says that it is not advised for kids under 18, people exposed to caffeine, pregnant women or women breastfeeding.
How much caffeine is in energy drinks?
- Prime Energy – 200mg (355ml can)
- Red Bull – 80mg (250ml)
- Monster – 160mg (473ml)
- Nos – 160mg (473ml)
- Burn – 112mg (354ml)
- Rockstar – 300mg (473ml)
- Lucozade – 46mg (380ml)
- Coco Cola original – 32mg (330ml)
Several schools around the world have sent warnings about Prime drinks or banned them entirely.
