Logan Paul and KSI pose with Prime hydration packs before the start of the regular season game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, March 31, 2023. (Brandon Sloat/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Brandon Sloat | Icon Sportsline | Getty Images
WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to investigate a sports energy drink created by a social media influencer that has become popular with children and teens.
Founded by YouTube stars Logan Paul and KSI, Prime quickly gained a cult following after launching in 2022 and became Official Partner of FC Barcelona This month. The brand offers bottled hydration drinks and canned energy drinks, which are said to be unsuitable for children.
In a news release issued Monday, Schumer’s office called the energy drink a “cauldron of caffeine.”
Schumer, Democrat of New York, wrote to FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf: “Many physicians have expressed serious concerns about Prime, and I am writing to specifically urge your agency to investigate Prime’s claims, marketing and coffee Because of the content.” Prime Drinks have quickly gone viral on social media platforms like TikTok, which itself has come under intense regulatory scrutiny in Washington.
Each 12-ounce serving of Prime Energy Drink contains 200 mg of caffeine, while each 12-ounce can contains 34 mg of caffeine. Coca Cola An 8.4-ounce can of Red Bull contains 80 mg, according to Schumer’s letter. countries including Australia, South Africa, UK, Canada and new Zealand Some schools have banned Prime energy drink or its caffeine-free version, Prime Hydration.
Schumer urged Califf to start an investigation based on doctors’ warnings to parents that the caffeine content “may adversely affect the health of children” and targeted advertising to younger demographics. The company’s lack of adequate warnings about its caffeine content has also drawn scrutiny, he wrote.
“A simple search for Prime on social media yields a staggering amount of sponsored content, and that’s advertising,” Schumer wrote. “This content and claims, as well as the ingredients and caffeine levels in Prime energy drinks, should be investigated.”
A company representative told CNBC that Prime Energy “contains caffeine levels comparable to other top-selling energy drinks, all within the legal limits of the countries in which it is sold,” and welcomes discussions with the FDA about protecting customers.
The representative said Prime Energy “complied with all FDA guidelines before entering the market and clearly stated on packaging and marketing materials that it is an energy drink and not suitable for anyone under the age of 18.”
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