TORONTO, April 1, 2015 /CNW/ - The Canadian Beverage
Association (CBA) and its members are concerned that the position
statement about energy drinks released today by New Brunswick Chief Medical Officer of Health
omits findings from the energy drink risk assessment conducted by
Health Canada which concluded that for adults, "…two servings of a
typical energy drink per day would not be expected to pose a health
risk for the general adult population."
For teens 12-18 years of age the Health Canada assessment also
concluded "The caffeine content of one or two servings of a typical
energy drink (80mg caffeine/serving) would be unlikely to pose an
acute health hazard."
"Today's statement is disappointing because it doesn't tell the
full, factual story. It is based on a single day of consultations
from 18 months ago. It neither reflects current research, nor what
was presented that day," says Jim
Goetz, President, Canadian Beverage Association. "To suggest
that our members are selling a dangerous product – a product that
has been approved by Health Canada and other leading health
authorities – is simply misleading."
While energy drinks do contain caffeine (80-100 mg), a similar
sized filter drip coffee (250 ml) contains twice as much caffeine,
averaging 179 mg. Contrary to the New
Brunswick statement, energy drinks do not contain any other
ingredients that are considered "stimulants".
Canadian Beverage Association members support a responsible
commitment to the manufacturing, marketing and consumption of their
products. CBA members voluntarily adhere to the Energy Drink
Marketing Code, which outlines that energy drinks are not to be
marketed to children, including the marketing or sale of energy
drinks in elementary or secondary schools.
Energy drinks are sold in more than 165 countries around the
world and are considered safe by the world's leading health
authorities including Health Canada, the US Food & Drug
Administration (USFDA), the European Food and Safety Authority
(EFSA), and Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ).
The Canadian Beverage Association is the national trade
association representing the broad spectrum of companies that
manufacture and distribute the majority of non-alcoholic
refreshment beverages consumed in Canada.
SOURCE Canadian Beverage Association