Energy Drinks & Beyond

'In Saudi Arabia they have huge restrictions on energy drinks – in summary, you can do nothing – you can’t do tastings, advertising, sponsorship, nothing,' says one brand in the region. © iStock.com / lowkick

Saudi Arabia smacks energy drinks with new fines

By Eliot Beer

Saudi Arabia has announced further restrictions on energy drinks, with fines to be levied against outlets serving the beverages, but the impact will be minimal, according to Euromonitor.

Consumer groups have called for a pan-EU ban on energy sales to under 18s following bans in Lithuania and Latvia. © iStock.com / mearman

What if... the EU banned energy drink sales to under 18s

By David Burrows

An EU-wide ban on selling energy drinks to under 18s would see volume sales fall by over 70 million litres, if the impact of similar legislation in Lithuania is anything to go by. The low-priced end of the market would be hit hardest, with standard and...

Moto me-too? “If you do something away from Red Bull’s taste profile, you’ll never succeed.

Moto aims to tap into Dubai’s energy

By Eliot Beer

Moto, a new Dubai-made energy drink, made its entry at Gulfood and is aiming to leverage the emirate’s growing reputation to carve out its identity in a crowded market.

ECF: “I can’t speak for coffee companies but the claims might be used as general information on product websites rather than on coffee products.

Bean boon? EC prepares for long-awaited caffeine claims

By Shane STARLING

The EC has drafted four endurance and cognition health claims for caffeine indicating a belated entry into EU law books five years after EFSA first approved them – but industry isn’t holding its breath.

Online forum to raise awareness of health risks of consuming energy drinks particularly among young people. © iStock.com / MSPhotographic

Germany asks: When do energy drinks pose a risk?

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has launched an online forum entitled ‘Energy Drinks: When do they pose a risk?’, which it hopes will raise awareness of the risks of high consumption in conjunction with alcohol and sports. 

Coffee and other caffeinated drinks do not correlate to an increased heartbeat, a recent study found.

Coffee does not cause rapid heartbeat: Study

By Hal Conick

Regular consumption of caffeine does not cause additional, rapid heartbeats, according to a recent study from the University of California-San Francisco.

Advertisements will also be subject to restrictions such as obligatory health warnings on the dangers of excessive consumption. © iStock.com / dk_photos

Latvia to ban energy drink sales to under 18s

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Latvia will follow in the footsteps of its Baltic neighbour by banning the sale of energy drinks to under 18s – something the country’s advertising association has called anti-EU.

Could slow-release coffee change the market?

Nestlé scientists developing slow-release coffee

By Hal Conick

Scientists at Nestlé are working on a new formula for slow-release coffee, something that could conceivably spread the effects of caffeine out over a longer period of time.

Image: Istock

EFSA backs safety of new stevia form

By Will Chu

Rebaudioside M is safe and can be added to the list of EU-approved steviol glycosides (E960), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has concluded. The agency said this was the case provided 95% of its components were converted to steviol.

A man was admitted to hospital because of thirst, sweating and nausea after drinking four cans of the energy drink Burn

The curious case of energy drinks & hypokalemia

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The medical case study of a man rushed to intensive care with severe potassium deficiency has brought the issue of energy drinks and hypokalemia back into the spotlight.

Energy drink launches based on branded ingredient message

Energy drink launches based on branded ingredient message

By Hank Schultz

A new energy drink product has launched based on the science behind two branded ingredients, Cognizin citicoline from Kyowa Hakko, and PurEnergy, a caffeine/pterostilbine crystalline combination manufactured by ChromaDex.

Ambitious: But are True Start claims going too far for the NHCR?

Lawyer: EU’s on-hold caffeine claims are usable

By Shane STARLING

Five caffeine health claims approved by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) but not yet EU-approved as industry, consumer and government stakeholders debate concerns, are in use anyway.

BEUC calls for caffeine claim ban following EFSA opinion

BEUC calls for caffeine claim ban following EFSA opinion

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

With the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) caffeine safety opinion finally published yesterday, the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) has called now for the ‘obvious conclusions’ to be drawn.

EFSA signs off on caffeine safety opinion without major changes

Science agency affirms safety at 400 mg daily for adults

EFSA adopts caffeine opinion

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has adopted its opinion on the safe consumption of caffeine with little change to its controversial draft after a heated debate period.