The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced it will be recalling six brands of energy drinks for non-compliance related to caffeine content and labelling requirements.
The recall includes the brand Prime Energy, which the United States Food and Drug Agency has been encouraged to investigate.
“In Canada, Prime Energy is considered to be a supplemented food and is subject to the regulations for supplemented foods,” said Marie-Pier Burelle, media relations advisor for the communications and public affairs branch of Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada.
“Under these regulations, energy drinks must not contain more than 180 mg of caffeine in a single-serving container and require cautionary statements to protect sensitive sub-populations, including children. Prime Energy exceeds the acceptable caffeine limit. As a result, it should not be sold in Canada,” she told The Epoch Times.
While Prime has not officially launched its drinks in Canada, it has been available to purchase in stores across the country. The official Canadian product is expected to contain about 140mg per can once available commercially.The CFIA said customers should not “consume, serve, use, sell, or distribute” drinks that have more than 180mg of caffeine. Health Canada and the CFIA said they are aware that some stores in Canada may be selling Prime Energy without approval and they are “actively working to address this issue.”
In addition to Prime’s recall, the brands 3D Alphaland, 5 Hour, Celsius, GFuel, and Sting are also being recalled because of non-compliance with caffeine content and labelling requirements.
On July 11, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called on federal regulators to investigate Prime for its marketing practices alleging that Prime Energy was packaged and marketed in a nearly identical fashion as the brand’s caffeine-free drink, Prime Hydration.
Research has shown that caffeinated energy drinks can have negative impacts on young people, with one review of recent research showing caffeine intoxication can potentially result in tachycardia, vomiting, cardiac arrhythmias, seizures, and even death.
