<p>CSE said tests carried out on leading brands like Red Bull and Cloud 9 found high levels of caffeine in 44 per cent of the samples. “Their makers and sellers claim that these energy drinks help increase alertness of the mind and improve concentration, stamina and athletic performance, but in reality, the caffeine in them can cause severe health impacts,” said CSE in a statement.<br /><br />Forty-four per cent of the samples tested by CSE breached the safe limit of 145 parts per million (ppm) of caffeine prescribed by the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act of 1954.<br /><br />CSE’s deputy director general Chandra Bhushan points out that currently, the caffeine content in energy drinks is unregulated and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is mulling a norm of 320 ppm. “The government has set 145 ppm as the safe limit for carbonated beverages – how can it now allow 320 ppm in energy drinks?” he argues.<br /><br />What’s more worrying is that energy drinks are being confused with sports drinks. “Studies show that these drinks are not made to rehydrate and replenish the body. In fact, consumed during intense physical activity, they can lead to dehydration,” he says.<br /><br />The brands tested by CSE were Red Bull, Coca-Cola’s Burn, Cloud 9, Hector Beverages’ Tzinga, Monster Energy Ltd's Monster Ripper and three of JMJ group’s XXX energy drink brands — Rejuve, Nicofix and Minus.<br /></p>
<p>CSE said tests carried out on leading brands like Red Bull and Cloud 9 found high levels of caffeine in 44 per cent of the samples. “Their makers and sellers claim that these energy drinks help increase alertness of the mind and improve concentration, stamina and athletic performance, but in reality, the caffeine in them can cause severe health impacts,” said CSE in a statement.<br /><br />Forty-four per cent of the samples tested by CSE breached the safe limit of 145 parts per million (ppm) of caffeine prescribed by the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act of 1954.<br /><br />CSE’s deputy director general Chandra Bhushan points out that currently, the caffeine content in energy drinks is unregulated and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is mulling a norm of 320 ppm. “The government has set 145 ppm as the safe limit for carbonated beverages – how can it now allow 320 ppm in energy drinks?” he argues.<br /><br />What’s more worrying is that energy drinks are being confused with sports drinks. “Studies show that these drinks are not made to rehydrate and replenish the body. In fact, consumed during intense physical activity, they can lead to dehydration,” he says.<br /><br />The brands tested by CSE were Red Bull, Coca-Cola’s Burn, Cloud 9, Hector Beverages’ Tzinga, Monster Energy Ltd's Monster Ripper and three of JMJ group’s XXX energy drink brands — Rejuve, Nicofix and Minus.<br /></p>