Logan Paul’s energy drink is under FDA scrutiny for this strange reason

THE SENATORS ASK the Food and Drug Administration to launch an investigation into Logan Paul and KSI’s energy drink, PRIME, which has nearly twice the amount of caffeine as a classic Red Bull.

New York Senator and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer released a letter addressed to the FDA Sunday asking for action. One of summer’s hottest status symbols for kids isn’t a dress, or a toy, it’s a drink, Schumer wrote. But the buyer and parents beware as it is a serious health issue for the children he so feverishly targets.

This isn’t the first controversy surrounding the energy drink endorsed by an influencer. UK schools have banned the substance due to its high caffeine content, which has led to students selling the product for high prices under the counter.

In a September 2022 tweet, KSI let everyone know whose side he was on.

“One school had the AUDACITY to ban Prime, leaving their students dehydrated,” he wrote. «To counter this blatant wrongdoing, we will be sending a truckload of Prime to this school and many other schools. Simply Retweet this tweet representing your school to get some Prime.»

While it’s unclear if those trucks were ever delivered, it does state on PRIME’s website that the drink is not intended for anyone under the age of 18. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, energy drinks «have no place in the diet of children and adolescents.» They can cause dehydration, heart complications, anxiety and insomnia in children.

«PRIME Energy Drink has so much caffeine that it could endanger children’s health. But it’s being marketed for children! Parents and pediatricians are concerned,» Schumer said in the letter. «FDA must investigate PRIME for its absurd caffeine content and marketing to children on social media.»

It’s not just children who can have health problems with too much caffeine. The broad range of conditions that energy drinks can negatively impact was quite surprising, said Josiemer Mattei, Ph.D., assistant professor of nutrition at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health Men’s health. Evidence suggests that prolonged use of energy drinks can lead to substance abuse, mental health problems, a higher risk of diabetes, tooth decay and kidney damage.

Alyx Sealy, spokesperson for PRIME, sent us the following statement:

“PRIME has two drinks on the market, PRIME Hydration and PRIME Energy. It is very important to distinguish between the two products because they are very different. We started PRIME last year with the launch of Hydration, a healthier alternative to sports drinks which comes in a bottle.PRIME Energy, sold in a can, released in 2023 and contains an amount of caffeine comparable to other best-selling energy drinks, all of which are within the legal limits of the countries it is sold in. It is hitting the market and clearly states on the packaging, as well as in marketing materials, that this is an energy drink and is not intended for persons 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 industry-suggested changes they deem necessary to protect consumers.»

Monday, July 10, 2023: This story has been updated

Cori Ritchey, NASM-CPT is Associate Health & Fitness Editor at Men’s Health and Certified Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor. You can find more of her work at HealthCentral, Livestrong, Self and others.