Durbin, Blumenthal ask FDA to review energy drinks quickly

Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) applauded the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) decision Tuesday to review the safety of energy drinks.

“There is very clearly a lack of understanding about the health effects of energy drinks and their ingredients especially on children and adolescents,” Durbin and Blumenthal said in a statement Tuesday.

The lawmakers have been calling for FDA regulation on the products since news reports linked several deaths with energy drink use. Durbin and Blumenthal called on the FDA to act fast.

“I am glad to see that the FDA is undertaking a review but more needs to be done and quickly,” the senators said. “For instance, FDA can and should take action now to regulate energy drinks that are marketed as beverages, like Red Bull which has more than the standard of 71 mg of caffeine per 12oz [to] which beverages like Coke and Pepsi are held.”

Durbin and Blumenthal have requested a meeting with FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg by the end of the year and said they look forward to hearing about the FDA’s plan to review energy drinks then.

The two Democrats have said they’re particularly concerned with the way energy drinks affect young consumers.

---