Logan Paul's Energy Drinks Could Face an FDA Investigation
Adults everywhere frequently turn to caffeinated beverages to give them a burst of energy when they need it most. YouTuber Logan Paul got in on the action last year with the launch of his own line of energy drinks. But the products' caffeine content is so high that the government might have to step in.
On July 9, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called on the Food and Drug Administration to open an investigation into Prime and its potential dangers to children across the country. Created by Paul and fellow YouTube star KSI, the drink has become wildly popular among their fans.
“One of the summer’s hottest status symbols for kids is not an outfit, or a toy—it’s a beverage,” Sen. Schumer said of the brand, according to The Associated Press. “But buyer and parents beware because it’s a serious health concern for the kids it so feverishly targets.”
“A simple search on social media for Prime will generate an eye-popping amount of sponsored content, which is advertising,” he continued. “This content and the claims made should be investigated, along with the ingredients and the caffeine content in the Prime energy drink."
With an astronomically high amount of caffeine, young people are perhaps the last people who should safely be consuming the drink. The vegan drink contains zero sugar but boasts 200 milligrams of caffeine per 12-ounce can. That's roughly the same amount as six cans of Coke or nearly two cans of 12-ounce Red Bull. Other energy drinks like Monster and NOS have similar caffeine content, but in a 16-ounce can.
Related: The Most Caffeinated Energy Drinks
Prime addresses consumers' concerns on its website, warning the drinks are "not recommended for children under the age of 18, women who are pregnant or nursing, or individuals who are sensitive to caffeine.” The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that children under the age of 12 should have no caffeinated coffee, tea, soda, sports drinks, or other products whatsoever, while youth between the ages of 12 and 18 should have no more than 100 milligrams per day.
"At just 12 ounces Prime has an eye-popping level of caffeine and that’s giving parents and doctors the jitters for the kids that are targets," Schumer said in a press conference addressing the issue, per CNN. "Here’s the other problem: most parents haven’t even heard of this stuff that their kids are begging for.”
“Prime is born from the reels of social media and the enigmatic world of influencers,” Schumer added. “Kids see it on their phones as they scroll and then they actually have a need for it."
In a statement provided to Men's Journal, a rep for Paul said the following.
“PRIME has two drinks on the market, PRIME Hydration and PRIME Energy. It is very important to make the distinction between the two products because they are vastly different," the rep stated. "We started PRIME last year with the launch of Hydration, a healthier sports drink alternative that comes in a bottle. PRIME Energy, sold in a can, dropped in 2023 and contains a comparable amount of caffeine to other top selling energy drinks, all falling within the legal limit of the countries it’s sold in.
The rep went on to say that the energy drink "complied with all FDA guidelines before hitting the market and states clearly on packaging, as well as in marketing materials, that it is an energy drink and is not made for anyone under the age of 18. As a brand, our top priority is consumer safety, so we welcome discussions with the FDA or any other organization regarding suggested industry changes they feel are necessary in order to protect consumers."
Social media is no doubt a powerful tool to market to children, especially when your product is colorful and cool-looking like Prime. For both you and your kids' sake, it might be best to keep the drinks out of the house for the time being.