Energy drinks are harmfulIntroductionThe consumption of energy drinks such as Red Bull, Monster and 5-Hour Energy Shot, which contain caffeine and other additives, is dangerous for the health and in some cases fatal. Energy drink manufacturers claim that consuming their products will improve athletic performance, concentration and reaction time, as well as increase basal metabolic rate. However, energy drink manufacturers add additional energy-enhancing ingredients such as glucose, taurine, guarana, and ginseng. Each of these ingredients has numerous negative side effects, see Table 1 on page 8. However, energy drink manufacturers are not required to list the amount or type of additive used in their products. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), FDA approval is required to use additives in conventional foods. Dietary supplements are considered by the FDA to be generally recognized as safe by qualified experts and therefore not considered a food additive. Unfortunately, the FDA does not need to approve addition to conventional foods such as beverages. As a result, energy drink manufacturers take advantage of this by labeling their products as “dietary supplements.” “ Therefore, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should be able to regulate ingredients added to energy drinks. Additionally, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), which regulates both dietary supplements and conventional foods, does not require manufacturers of conventional foods to report serious adverse events (FDA, 2012). Caffeine, a central nervous system stimulant, is the main psychoactive ingredient in energy drinks, improving alertness and mood and counteracting sleep symptoms. There is no doubt... middle of paper... your eating. Retrieved June 20, 2014, from Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.org/caffeine/ART-20045678?p=1Szpak, A. a. (2012, April 2). A case of acute suicide following excessive caffeine intake. Journal of Psychopharmacology. doi: 10.1177/0269881112442788Terry, L. (2014, June 25). Oregon. Retrieved June 26, 2014, from More deaths linked to Energy Drinks: 34 since 2004: http://www.oregonlive.com/health/index.ssf/2014/06/more_deaths_linked_to_energy_d.htmlYew, D. M. (2014, March 31). Caffeine toxicity. (AM Tarabar, editor) Retrieved June 18, 2014, from Medscape: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/821863-overviewZeratsky, K. R. (2012, March 27). Can energy drinks really increase a person's energy? Retrieved June 23, 2014, from Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/energy-drinks/faq-20058349