Red
Bull Gives You Wings, ..amongst
other things
Red Bull: the experts
say it should carry a health warning - what do those who drink
it think?
FSPB Stimulant Drinks
Report Released
With sales in the region of
1 million cases a year, stimulant drinks have staked their claim
in the soft drinks market. But whether used as a mixer with alcohol
or an energy booster taken alone, these drinks are causing concern.
A report from the Food Safety Protection Board was commissioned
following a recommendation from an inquest jury after the death
of an 18 year old Limerick student who’d drunk three cans
of Red Bull before a basketball tournament. The inquest jury
found no evidence that Red Bull was responsible for his death,
but the Food Safety Promotion Board has advised that stimulant
drinks such as Red Bull should carry a warning label that they
should not be consumed with alcohol.
Commenting on the report Martin
Higgins Chief Executive with SafeFood, the Food Safety Promotion
Board said, "We undertook this study at the request of Minister
of State, Dr Tom Moffatt. Our purpose was to review the potential
health effects on the population from the consumption of stimulant
drinks, assess knowledge gaps and consider any steps which would
be needed to provide appropriate protection for public health."
The team undertaking the investigation
paid particular attention to the marketing techniques used to
promote the products and the situations in which the drinks are
regularly consumed.
Commenting further Professor
Sean Strain, Chairman of the Stimulant Drinks Committee said "The
Committee was constrained by the limited amount of comprehensive
information, risk assessment data and peer reviewed scientific
research in this area. In light of this limited information and
in order to protect public health, we have adopted a precautionary
approach to its review."
The report makes
the following recommendations:
a) stimulant drinks should be labelled
with an indication that they are unsuitable for children (under
16 years of age), pregnant women and individuals sensitive to caffeine.
b) they should be classified with
other beverages of high caffeine content.
c) the consumption of stimulant drinks
by children under 16 years should be discouraged.
d) caution should be exercised in
the consumption of stimulant drinks with alcohol.
e) they should not be consumed in
association with sport and exercise as a thirst quencher.
f) they are unsuitable rehydration
agents for use in sport and during exercise.
Labelling
The Committee welcomes the changes to the labelling regulations requiring drink
products with caffeine contents greater than 150 milligram per litre to
be labelled ‘high caffeine content’ and the amount of caffeine
present be given. This should be implemented as soon as is practicable.
The Committee also recommends
that stimulant drinks should be labelled with an indication that
they are unsuitable for children (under 16 years of age), pregnant
women and individuals sensitive to caffeine.
Groups for special
consideration
In the context of advice to pregnant women to limit caffeine intake owing to
the possible adverse effects of high caffeine intake on pregnancy outcome,
stimulant drinks should be classified with other beverages of high caffeine
content.
Consumption of stimulant drinks
by children under 16 years should be discouraged on the basis
of possible transient behavioural effects of high caffeine intake,
such as increased arousal, irritability, nervousness or anxiety.
Circumstances under which
stimulant drinks are consumed:
Consumers should be advised that caution be exercised in the consumption of
stimulant drinks with alcohol and the products should carry a clear statement
on the label to this effect.
It is recommended that stimulant
drinks not be consumed in association with sport and exercise
as a thirst quencher, and that the products should carry a clear
statement on the label that they are unsuitable rehydration agents
for use in sport and during exercise.
Marketing
The Committee has a number of concerns
about the marketing and promotion of stimulant drinks including:
a) misleading claims
b) suggestion that stimulant drinks
reduce the requirement for sleep
c) lack of recommended upper consumption
limits
d) ambiguous information on the consumption
of stimulant drinks with alcohol, and
e) promotion of stimulant drinks
consumption in association with sport.
It is recommended that the
industry regulators and relevant authorities address such practices.
Further research
The Committee recognises that
in order to undertake a full risk assessment of the ingredients
of stimulant drinks and their interactions, extensive research
would need to be conducted. Such research would require toxicological
investigations that would best be carried out at a concerted
international level.
It is recommended that
further research be carried out to:
a) monitor
patterns of stimulant drink consumption
b) establish
an upper safe level for daily intake of glucuronolactone and taurine
in humans, and
c) investigate
possible adverse effects of interactions between stimulant drink
ingredients such as caffeine and taurine, and between such ingredients
and alcohol, particularly under conditions of exercise and consequent
dehydration through sweating.
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