http://www.smh.com.au/world/energy-drink-firm-sued-over-teens-death-20121020-27xxe.html Energy drink firm sued over teen's death Date, October 21, 2012 a.. Fatal cardiac arrest allegedly caused by Monster Energy drink ... Anais Fournier. Photo: Supplied
THE family of a 14-year-old US girl is suing the Californian maker of Monster Energy, alleging too much caffeine in the popular energy drink led to her death. Lawyers said the two 700ml cans of Monster Energy consumed by Anais Fournier in the 24 hours before her fatal cardiac arrest in December last year contained as much caffeine - 480 milligrams - as 14 cans of Coca-Cola. The ensuing autopsy cited ''cardiac arrhythmia due to caffeine toxicity'' as the cause of death. The family is asking the California Supreme Court for ''all damages allowed by law'', claiming Monster Energy should be held responsible for wrongful death for allegedly failing to warn about its product's dangers. Advertisement By law, soft drinks in the US can contain no more than 71.5 milligrams of caffeine per 12 ounces. But the limit does not apply to drinks like Monster Energy that are considered dietary supplements. ''These drinks are death traps for young, developing girls and boys like my daughter Anais,'' her mother, Wendy Crossland, said in a statement issued by the family's law firm. ''I just want Monster Energy to know their product can kill.'' In a statement, the drink's manufacturer, Monster Beverage, said it was unaware of any fatality caused by any of the more than 8 billion energy drinks it hadsold worldwide. ''Monster does not believe that its beverages are in any way responsible for the death of Ms Fournier,'' it said, adding that it intended to ''vigorously'' defend itself in court. Agence France-Presse Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/world/energy-drink-firm-sued-over-teens-death-20121020-27xxe.html#ixzz29rkaSC00 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
