It seems like the Paul brothers are always under scrutiny for something, and this past week, Logan Paul’s energy drink, which has become a hit among young children, is taking its own hit from health experts and lawmakers regarding the dangerously high levels of caffeine.
Paul’s drink, PRIME, was called on by Senator Charles Schumer to be analyzed by the Food and Drug Administration this past Sunday. Over the past few months, the energy drink has become somewhat of an obsession for young, wannabe influencers and Logan Paul followers.
Schumer, a Democrat senator from New York, says that no longer is the hottest summer status symbol a toy or an outfit — it’s a beverage. However, Schumer also notes that many parents should be aware of the potential risks of this drink, as it’s heavily targeted at young kids and could pose a serious health concern.
PRIME, which is also backed by YouTube star KSI, was launched this past year and became an instant hit in both major grocery stores and school campuses. In fact, many teachers note seeing kids reselling them on the playground.
The neon-colored drink is advertised as both vegan and zero sugar, though it has joined the ranks of the ever-expanding number of extremely caffeinated energy drinks. PRIME carries around 200 mg of caffeine for every 12 oz bottle, which is about the same amount of caffeine as two standard cans of Red Bull or a dozen standard Coke cans.
Upon discovering its caffeine content, some schools in Australia and the United Kingdom have asked to ban the drinks from their campuses, worried about the potential health impacts it might have on young children, including digestive issues, anxiety, and heart problems.
Representatives from the company, however, have defended the drink, noting the clear label that says the drink is “not recommended for those under 18.”
The same representative also noted that the company sells a PRIME sports drink as well, which doesn’t contain any caffeine.
In Schumer’s recent letter to the FDA, he noted that when looking at the marketing materials, there was very little difference between the way in which caffeinated and non-caffeinated drinks were marketed. Some parents might believe that they’re buying juice for their kids when in actuality, they’re purchasing cauldrons of caffeine.
Head to any social media platform and type in the word PRIME, and you’ll see a hoard of ultra-colorful, eye-popping content sponsored by regular people and influencers alike. There is quite a large amount of advertising behind this drink, and both health experts and lawmakers believe that the claims they are making should be under investigation, along with the caffeine content and overall ingredients found in the company’s energy drinks.
Neither Logan Paul nor representatives from PRIME have responded to the most recent allegations of suspicious marketing.
