Energy drinks threaten health: Test results are alarming

A study conducted in Germany has revealed that the vast majority of energy drinks contain ingredients harmful to health. Only 4 out of 22 products were found to be acceptable, while the rest failed in terms of consumer safety.

Don't leave your news choices to an algorithm - decide for yourself what you read. Add 12punto to your preferred sources!

Energy drinks threaten health: Test results are alarming

A consumer test conducted in Germany has determined that most energy drinks carry serious health risks. Of the 22 products examined by Öko-Test magazine, only 4 received a 'satisfactory' rating, while 18 products were rated as 'unsatisfactory' or 'very unsatisfactory.' The test included international brands such as Red Bull, Monster Energy, and Rockstar, as well as products from supermarket chains like Aldi.

BPA LEVELS POSE A DANGER

One of the most striking findings of the research was the presence of Bisphenol A (BPA) in 20 of the 22 drinks. In 14 of these drinks, BPA levels were high enough that a single can would exceed the daily limit a teenager can tolerate. BPA can leach into the liquid from the inner lining of the cans, potentially affecting the hormonal system and leading to serious long-term health issues such as cancer, infertility, and developmental disorders.

WARNINGS ON SUGAR AND SWEETENERS

Many energy drinks contain more than 10 grams of sugar per 100 ml. This means that a standard 250 ml can alone exceeds the daily sugar intake recommended by the World Health Organization. Although some brands prefer to use sweeteners instead of sugar, these ingredients are also considered problematic by experts as they increase the craving for sweets. Monster and Rockstar received low marks for this reason.

CAFFEINE CONTENT DANGEROUS FOR YOUTH

Energy drinks typically contain an average of 80 mg of caffeine per can. The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) states that teenagers consuming more than three cans of energy drinks per day poses a risk to the cardiovascular system.

BPA BAN IS ON THE WAY BUT IMPLEMENTATION TIMELINE IS LONG

The European Union has decided to ban the production of packaging containing BPA starting from January 2025. However, manufacturers have been granted until the end of July 2026 to clear existing products from the market. This means that cans containing BPA will continue to remain on shelves throughout the coming year.

News Source: 12punto