A DAD has called for Prime Energy to be pulled from shelves after his eight-year-old boy “nearly died” from drinking a can.
Luan Tusha said his family rang 999 when Fabian appeared to be having a fit and could not control his breathing.
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Fabian Tusha ‘nearly died’ after drinking a can of Prime Energy
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Luan Tusha said his family rang 999 when Fabian appeared to be having a fit
They did not realise it is for over-16s only because it contains 140mg of caffeine — almost double the 80mg in a 250ml can of Red Bull.
Experts warn high levels raise heart rates and blood pressure and say that kids are more at risk.
The £2 can of Blue Raspberry Prime Energy was bought during a family shop at Asda.
It appears almost identical to a bottle of trendy zero-caffeine drink Prime Hydration.
Father-of-two Luan, 40, of Edmonton, North London, said Fabian started feeling unwell as soon as he tried it at home.
Luan said: “His heart rate got up to 145 bpm — you could see it thumping through his T-shirt.
“He couldn’t breathe. He started to pull his hair and his cheeks. My wife got a cool towel and put it on his forehead to try to calm him down.”
Paramedics found his blood pressure was extremely high, and stayed with him for 90 minutes until his vital signs stabilised.
Builder Luan and wife Libua, 43, then watched him through the night.
The trendy drink — launched by YouTube stars Logan Paul and KSI — triggered fights among queuing fans when it went on sale in UK supermarkets in February. It was resold online for as much as £20.
A message on the back warns Prime Energy is not recommended for children, pregnant women or people sensitive to caffeine.
Most UK supermarkets have banned the sale of energy drinks such as Prime, Red Bull and Monster, to under-16s.
One New York grocery store chain has pulled Prime Energy from shelves completely. And Luan wants the same done across the UK.
He said: “It almost killed Fabian. We need to make sure that kids stop drinking this.”
Dr Duane Mellor, from Aston University, explained: “Children are at more risk due to lower body weight and different metabolisms.”
Professor Amelia Lake, from the Fuse centre at Teesside University, added: “There is a risk because it’s not easy to knock back hot coffees but these are sweet tasting so it’s easy to drink a lot.
“The truth is that we don’t have a lot of evidence for what energy drinks are doing to children, or even to adults.”
Prime declined to comment on the incident.
Asda said: “As with all energy drinks a 16+ age restriction applies to this product.
“Any customer purchasing this product who looks under 25 will be required to show proof of ID, and we ask customers to please be responsible when purchasing these products.”
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Father-of-two Luan, 40, of Edmonton, North London, has called for the product to be pulled from shelves
SO WHY WORRY ABOUT PRIME?
CAFFEINE:There is around four times as much caffeine in PRIME as a can of Coke.
Too much of the stimulant can cause poor sleep, headaches and nausea.
TAURINE: Food chiefs say this amino acid is safe to drink in higher quantities than PRIME’s 37.5mg. But studies show ingesting huge amounts may hurt the heart or brain.
B VITAMINS: PRIME Energy boasts up to 2.8 times more than the daily recommended amount of B6 and B12, with the Department of Health warning too much B6 or B12 “could be harmful”.
FULL INGREDIENTS: Carbonated Water, Coconut Water Concentrate, Citric Acid, Flavouring, Calcium, Potassium, Sodium Citrate, Caffeine, Sweeteners (Sucralose, Acesulfame K), Theanine (Camellia Sinensis), Preservatives (Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate), Inositol, Taurine, Glucuronolactone, Stabilisers (Gum Arabic, Acacia Gum, Glycerol Esters Of Wood Rosins), Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12.
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education