Logan Paul and KSI pose with Prime hydration bottles prior to a regular season game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers on March 31, 2023, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Brandon Sloter | Icon Sportswire | Getty Images
WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is urging the Food and Drug Administration to investigate Prime, a sports energy drink founded by influential social media personalities, Logan Paul and KSI. The drink has gained significant popularity among children and teenagers.
Prime, which recently partnered with Futbol Club Barcelona, offers a bottled hydration drink and a canned energy beverage. Although the energy beverage is not intended for children, it has become a cause for concern.
In a press release on Monday, Schumer’s office referred to the energy drink as a “cauldron of caffeine.”
Schumer wrote a letter to FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf, urging the agency to investigate Prime for its claims, marketing strategies, and caffeine content. The popularity of Prime drinks on social media platforms, such as TikTok, has also raised regulatory concerns.
According to Schumer’s letter, the Prime energy drink contains 200 mg of caffeine per 12 ounces, while a 12-ounce can of Coca-Cola contains 34 mg and an 8.4-ounce can of Red Bull contains 80 mg. Several countries, including Australia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Canada, and New Zealand, have already banned Prime Energy drinks or its caffeine-free version in some schools.
Physicians have warned parents about the adverse health effects of the drink’s caffeine content on children. Schumer emphasized the targeted advertising towards younger demographics and the lack of sufficient warnings about the caffeine content.
Schumer called for an investigation into the sponsored content and claims made by Prime, as well as an analysis of the ingredients and caffeine content in the energy drink.
A representative from Prime Energy responded to the concerns, stating that the drink contains a comparable amount of caffeine to other best-selling energy drinks and complies with the legal limits of the countries where it is sold. The representative also expressed willingness to engage in discussions with the FDA to protect customers.
Prime Energy clearly states on its packaging and marketing materials that it is an energy drink intended for individuals aged 18 and above, and it claims to have complied with all FDA guidelines before entering the market.
