Change to energy drink labels considered

A company behind some high-powered energy drinks is considering upgrading warnings on its bottles after a 15-year-old girl collapsed at school and needed to be treated by paramedics.

The Heretaunga College pupil collapsed last week after drinking several high-powered shots on an empty stomach before going to school. Paramedics wanted to take the girl to hospital, but her mother refused and instead took her to a GP.

The Food Safety Authority has stepped in and warned the company that it is keeping a close eye on the situation, especially if the drinks classed as dietary supplements were being marketed at children.

Its comments came as the New South Wales Government called for energy drinks to be banned. A consumer group, Australia Consumers Association, also wants the drinks banned from sale to those aged under 16. It also wanted them removed from vending machines and school canteens.

Heretaunga College principal Bruce Hart said the manufacturer contacted him after hearing of the incident and was "distressed". "They seemed quite responsible and were keen to find out what actually happened. They are looking at whether they need to upgrade the writing on the drinks, which was very pleasing."

Demon Energy, which distributes the NOS and Demon shots the girl drank, refused to say if it was considering changes, but said it was concerned that she had consumed more than one shot.

"We do not target children in anyway," director Andy Smith said.

The drinks contain more than twice the amount of caffeine of an average cup of coffee. People are warned not to drink them if they want to sleep within six hours, and told that the drinks can increase heart rates.

The company has sold more than 250,000 energy drinks in New Zealand and said it had not heard of a similar incident.

Mr Hart was also concerned the pupil was able to buy the drinks from a dairy.

But Ankur Vintel Food Market owner Ankur Hitesh was "100 per cent" certain the pupil did not buy the drinks.

She said CCTV footage showed a male friend, who did not go to the school, paid for the drinks and gave them to her outside the shop. "She was told by the person behind the counter not to drink them, but once she is outside there is nothing we can do."

Mr Hart said the pupil told him she bought the drinks. When the pair watched the dairy's CCTV footage it showed what she had described. "She definitely bought them at the dairy. There is a guy with her but he's even younger.

"She has admitted she was a bit ignorant buying the drinks when she had not had breakfast. She consumed a lot of caffeine in a short period of time."

Food Safety Authority spokesperson Geoff Allen said though the drinks were not illegal, he would be concerned if they were being targeted at people aged under 18.

- © Fairfax NZ News