In response to “Caffeine and Taurine Containing Energy Drink Improves Systolic Left-ventricular Contractility in Healthy Volunteers Assessed by Strain Analysis Using Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Tagging,” a paper presented at the Radiological Society of North America’s annual meeting, the American Beverage Association issued the following statement:

“The fact remains that most mainstream energy drinks contain only about half the caffeine of a similar size cup of coffeehouse coffee. Caffeine is a safe ingredient and is consumed every day in a wide variety of foods and beverages, including energy drinks which have been enjoyed safely by millions of people for nearly three decades. Also, this paper, which looks at only 18 adults, has not been peer-reviewed or published.”

Additional Background:

About Energy Drinks and Ingredients:

Energy drinks have been enjoyed safely by millions of people around the world for more than 25 years, and in the U.S. for more than 15 years. Many of the ingredients found in energy drinks occur naturally and in other foods that we enjoy regularly.  Taurine is an amino acid found naturally in the human body, as well as in common food items such as seafood, scallops and poultry. Caffeine has been safely consumed, in a variety of foods and beverages, around the world for hundreds of years. A vast body of available and reliable science supports the safety of caffeine, including at the levels found in mainstream energy drinks. According to a report from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), on average, 14 to 21 year olds consume about one-third the amount of caffeine consumed daily by people over 21, with most of that amount coming from coffee, tea and soft drinks. 

# # #

The American Beverage Association is the trade association representing the broad spectrum of companies that manufacture and distribute non-alcoholic beverages in the United States.  For more information on ABA, please visit the association’s Web site at www.ameribev.org or call the ABA communications team at (202) 463-6770.

-30-