Over the past few years, concerns and controversy have been linked to energy drinks and the dangers that have been reported in adults, but now Health Day has published a new study that discusses young children, under the age of six, who are also at risk when they consume these products. The study reported data from 55 separate poison control centers over a three-year period, resulting in conclusive statistics that revealed 40 percent of reports to poison control centers in the U.S. involved children in this age range.
Although energy drinks are typically marketed to teenagers and young adults, the national poison control data system has linked these reports to children's unintentional exposure to the beverages. Over 50 percent of these reported cases included serious health incidents such as heart problems and seizures.
The study clearly shows the availability and level of exposure that young children have to these beverages. Canned energy drinks that contain herbal ingredients plus caffeine can be labeled as dietary supplements without evaluation of health safety by the FDA. As a result, people may then be given inaccurate or incorrect product information about the amount of caffeine they are consuming, especially if the company chooses not to disclose the specific amount of caffeine per drink.
The level of caffeine in these drinks have caused health risks that, according to The Huffington Post, have led to nearly double the number of emergency room visits for energy drink-related incidents from 2007 to 2011. To provide a gauge for the amount of caffeine that a single energy drink contains, one cup of coffee has approximately 100 milligrams of caffeine. Certain energy drinks have four times that amount per serving. Caffeine toxicity has been known to cause:
- Headaches;
- Nausea;
- Heart palpitations;
- Tremors;
- Seizures;
- Mania;
- Hallucinations; and
- Strokes.
If these are the kind of medical reactions and emergencies happening to adults who consume energy drinks, imagine the dangerous effects children may suffer.
Manufacturers cannot be misleading in its labeling and consumers have the right to know the specific health problems its products can cause. If your child has suffered adverse reactions following the consumption of energy drinks in Illinois, contact an experienced product liability attorney in Chicago today. We can discuss your legal options. Call the law office of [[title]] at [[phone]] for a free case consultation.
