Teen deaths linked to Monster Energy drinks in new report
A new report has linked Monster Energy drinks with the deaths of five people.
Monster Energy drinks may have taken the lives of five people over the last three years said a new report by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The New York Times broke the news that the energy drink, which is high in caffeine, has been linked to the deaths of several people around the country and is being over the death of a teenage girl.
The lawsuit was filed Friday after the death of 14-year-old Maryland girl, Anais Fournier, and claims that the company failed to warn people about the health risks related to the drink.
The girl died of cardiac arrest after drinking two 24-ounce cans of Monster Energy over two days.
The Associated Press reported that an autopsy revealed that Fournier died of "cardiac arrhythmia due to caffeine toxicity" and that she had a disorder that weakened her blood vessels.
Her family filed a Freedom of Information request to see FDA documents pertaining to the drinks, which showed that the government was looking into the deaths of others who may have died after consuming them.
Corona, Calif.-based Monster Energy maintains that it is unaware of any deaths that were caused by its beverages.
The report said that all of the deaths happened after 2009 and could be linked to other underlying health issues.
The New York Times speculated that the newly released documents may spur more calls for government oversight of the energy beverage industry.
The release of the report caused a precipitous 14 percent drop in the company's stock on Monday, said Reuters.
Monster Energy, once known as Hansen Natural, is the top energy drink in the US with nearly 39 percent of market share.
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