Amp Energy Drink Dangers
Energy drinks have shot up in popularity over the past several years, without any sign of slowing down. According to Report Buyer, annual energy drink sales will surpass $9 billion by 2011.
Energy drinks claim to give you the extra boost needed to get through your busy day. But are these energy drinks safe? One popular brand is Amp Energy, produced and distributed by PepsiCo. Amp Energy, along with many other energy drinks, has come under scrutiny for the safety of its ingredients.
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History
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Amp Energy was launched by PepsiCo in 2001 as a competitor to the popular energy drink Red Bull. It was originally called Mountain Dew Amp and still contains Mountain Dew's base flavor formula.
In January 2008, PepsiCo launched a massive advertising campaign during Super Bowl XLII starring NASCAR racing star Dale Earnhardt Jr. Along with the campaign, three new flavors and multiple package variations were introduced.
Today there are several varieties of Amp Energy available, including original Amp Energy, Overdrive, Elevate, Traction, Relaunch and Amp Energy Sugar Free.
Ingredients
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According to its Web site, Amp Energy "provides all the power you need to Amp up!" A closer look at the ingredients may give evidence to back their claim.
The active ingredients in Amp Energy are:
Guarana: A plant that is common in Brazil, with large leaves and clusters of flowers. As a dietary supplement, guarana is an effective energy stimulant. It contains about twice the caffeine found in coffee beans.
Taurine: A naturally occurring sulfonic amino acid, it can also be found in the lower intestines of animals. It is thought that taurine assists in the proper maintenance and functioning of skeletal muscles, but this has not been proven scientifically.
Ginseng: It is thought to have unique healing properties. In much of Asia, ginseng is thought to have revitalization properties for the whole body.
B-vitamins: Eight water-soluble vitamins that play an important role in cell metabolism.
Caffeine: This bittersweet substance is the world's most widely consumed psychoactive stimulant drug.
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Dangers
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Amp Energy drinks contain a large amount of caffeine. A 24-ounce can contains as much caffeine as three cups of coffee. Consuming large quantities of caffeine can make you jittery and irritable. In addition to caffeine, a 24-ounce can of Amp Energy contains huge amounts of sugar (93 grams) and legal herbal stimulants.
According to the Global Health Center, because there has not been extensive research performed on these herbal stimulants in Amp Energy and other energy drinks, it's unclear whether there are additional hazards to consuming these beverages.
Size
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Another concern of health officials is the increasing size of energy drinks. When it was first introduced in 2001, Amp Energy came in 12-ounce servings. Today, you can find Amp Energy in 16-ounce and 24-ounce cans.
Although a 24-ounce Amp Energy contains as much caffeine as three cups of coffee, there are worse choices. No-Name energy drink, manufactured by Redux Beverages, contains as much caffeine as a whopping nine cups of coffee.
Industry Response
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PepsiCo insists its Amp Energy drinks are safe, claiming the "energizing blend of B-Vitamins and a specially formulated intense combination of taurine, ginseng and guarana keeps you connected and on top of your game."
The safety of Amp Energy may be debated, but as the No. 5 energy drink (according to Brandweek) it's likely the product will remain on store shelves.
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