starbucks on Tuesday launched a drink in stores nationwide called Iced Energy, which contains up to 205 milligrams of caffeine, about the same amount as six cans of Coca-Cola. The fruity energy drink debuts less than two months after bakery and coffee chain Panera Bread announced it would discontinue its controversial Charged Lemonade, a drink that lawsuits blamed for two deaths and referred to as a “dangerous energy drink.” “.
Iced Energy comes in three flavors, including its most caffeinated flavor, Tropical Citrus, which has 205 milligrams of caffeine, according to Starbucks' website. That's more than a Starbucks grande Caffe Latte, which has 150 milligrams of caffeine, but significantly less than Panera's Charged Lemonade, which had 390 milligrams of caffeine when served in a large 30-fluid-ounce cup without ice. Panera began phasing out Charged Lemonade on May 7 and has denied any wrongdoing, saying it removed the drink as part of a broader menu transformation.
Except for their Frozen Tropical Citrus Iced Energy with Strawberry Puree, Iced Energy is sugar-free and contains artificial sweeteners. All flavors contain caffeine, vitamins and taurine, an amino acid common in popular energy drinks that has been touted as helping improve exercise performance, although more study is needed. While taurine is not a stimulant, some animal studies indicate that its regular consumption in high doses could be harmful to the developing brain of adolescents.
Charged Lemonade, on the other hand, contained sugar and guarana extract, a stimulant that supposedly helps with weight loss and improves cognition, but can be dangerous when taken long-term in large quantities.
Charged Lemonade and Iced Energy are part of a growing category called “functional drinks” that chains large and small are eager to enter, experts say. These drinks contain ingredients that are said to improve health.
“You're seeing the desire for functional beverages take hold in many different beverage segments,” said Brian Warrener, director of the Center for Beverage Education and Innovation at Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island, adding that “Non-alcoholic beverages” Non-alcoholic cocktail elixirs are another huge growth area within functional beverages. “Consumers believe there is some benefit.”
Starbucks' new drink arrives amid a host of similar options elsewhere. In February, as Panera reeled from multiple lawsuits over its Charged Lemonade, Dunkin' introduced SPARKD' energy drinks, fizzy energy drinks with guarana and taurine that come in peach and berry flavors and have up to 192 milligrams of caffeine. Smoothie King offers lemonade sodas that contain up to 125 milligrams of “natural caffeine” from green coffee beans.
The energy drink market as a whole has exploded: As of mid-May, annual sales of energy drinks in the United States had risen to nearly $22 billion, up from about $13.5 billion at the end of 2019, according to Circana. a market research company based in Chicago. firm.
And energy drinks have more caffeine than ever. Red Bull, which has been sold for decades, contains 114 milligrams of caffeine in a 12-fluid-ounce can, while many newer brands, including Celsius, contain 200 milligrams or more. Others, like Bang, have 300 milligrams.
The Food and Drug Administration says healthy adults can generally consume up to 400 milligrams of caffeine per day, the equivalent of about four or five cups of coffee.
Starbucks' menu has items that approach that level, like the Grande Blonde Hot Roast Coffee, which has 360 milligrams.
While most adults can consume caffeine, the American Academy of Pediatrics says caffeine has no benefits for children and has specifically stated that teens should avoid energy drinks for health reasons.
A growing number of countries have banned the sale of energy drinks to children, with Russia being the latest country to take action to stop sales to under-18s. In the United States, multiple state efforts to do the same have failed.
Starbucks' Iced Energy is different from its sodas, popular caffeinated juices that contain about 30 milligrams or more of caffeine, a little more than the amount in a can of Coca-Cola. Starbucks baristas have shared on TikTok that parents aren't always aware that sodas contain caffeine when ordering them for their kids.
Starbucks did not respond to multiple requests for comment on its Iced Energy, including whether it would take any steps to prevent children from drinking them.
