YouTubers KSI and Logan Paul have used their fame to push a new trendy energy drink that U.S. Sen Chuck Schumer (D-NY) says is potentially dangerous for children, according to a letter to the Food and Drug Administration.
Prime Energy has taken the world by storm thanks in no small part to a media marketing campaign that has seen the drink become the official sports drink of UFC. It was also featured in an ad that ran during the Super Bowl pregame.
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Between them, KSI and Paul have nearly 50 million YouTube subscribers, most of them young men, and their influence on Gen Z is undeniable.
“One of the summer’s hottest status symbols for kids is not an outfit, is not a toy — it’s a beverage. But buyer and parents beware, because it’s a serious health concern for the kids it so feverishly targets," Schumer said during a press conference, the NY Post reported.
“Prime is born from the wheels of social media and the enigmatic world of influencers. Kids see it on their phone as they scroll, and then they actually have a need for it. And the problem here is that the product has so much caffeine in it that it puts Red Bull to shame."
Schumer called Prime a "cauldron of caffeine" while also claiming that a 12 ounce can contains more caffeine than two Red Bulls or about a six-pack of Coca-Cola. Each can of Prime Energy contains 200 milligrams of caffeine.
Schumer acknowledged that there is a warning label on the drink stating that it isn't recommended for consumers under 18, but The New York Senator said the label isn't enough.
Schumer asked the FDA to investigate the health claims from the energy drink and whether the level of caffeine in the drink is suitable for children.
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