Schumer requires investigating Logan Paul and KSI vitality drink over caffeine content material

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) requested the Meals and Drug Administration on Monday to research the beverage firm PRIME for its vitality drink with excessive ranges of caffeine that Schumer alleges is focused at kids.

"One of many summer time’s hottest standing symbols for teenagers shouldn't be an outfit or a toy — it’s a beverage. However purchaser and fogeys beware as a result of it’s a critical well being concern for the youngsters it so feverishly targets,” Schumer instructed reporters at a press convention on Sunday asserting his intention to ship a letter to the FDA.

MUSK V ZUCK: HOW TWO OF TECH'S RICHEST MEN HAVE BEEN RIVALS FOR YEARS

PRIME was began by UFC fighters and social media personalities Logan Paul and J.J. Olatunji, often known as KSI, in 2022. It grew to become the official drink of the UFC in January 2023 and has turn into extensively obtainable throughout the US, United Kingdom, and Europe. The model grew to become particularly well-liked this spring when Paul and Olatunji staged a number of scenes with followers pretending to be indignant on the celebrities as a advertising and marketing stunt to realize media consideration.

PRIME's Instagram account has 1.7 million followers, and its Twitter account has practically 395,000 followers. Paul has 6.7 million Twitter followers and 25.9 million Instagram followers, whereas Olatunji has 8.8 million Twitter followers and 12.9 million Instagram followers.

Two of the corporate's merchandise, PRIME Hydration and PRIME Hydration+ Sticks, comprise no caffeine and are marketed as muscle restoration drinks due to their electrolyte and antioxidant content material.

PRIME Power, nonetheless, has 200 milligrams of caffeine per 12-ounce can, which is nearly six instances as a lot caffeine as the identical dimension can of Coca-Cola and 3 times as a lot as the identical dimension can of Crimson Bull.

Though Schumer's essential declare is that the corporate doesn't sufficiently distinguish in its advertising and marketing the distinction between its merchandise, the FAQ web page of the PRIME web site has a disclaimer that the caffeinated product "shouldn't be beneficial for kids underneath the age of 18, girls who're pregnant or nursing, or people who're delicate to caffeine."

“That is eyepopping ranges of caffeine for a kid’s physique, [and] as a result of the product is billed as a hydration and sports activities drink in its different near-identical kind, youngsters are prone to ingest cans of these items with dad and mom unaware — and that’s a recipe for catastrophe," Schumer mentioned.

Within the letter despatched Monday, Schumer requested that FDA Commissioner Robert Califf examine the corporate's well being claims, social media advertising and marketing technique, the warnings and labeling of its merchandise, and whether or not 200 milligrams of caffeine is protected for kids.

"I urge your company to research Prime for its total claims, its advertising and marketing and the caffeine content material, and to significantly think about Prime’s goal market of youngsters as a part of any investigation," Schumer wrote.