Prime energy drinks have just hit the shelves in Australia and kids across the country have gone crazy for them!
Some Schools have even started to issue warnings to parents and have banned Prime Energy drinks due to health concerns.
Among the schools enforcing the bans are Swanbourne and Mount Hawthorn primary schools in Perth, Maryborough State High School in Queensland, and Miami State School on the Gold Coast.
Miami State School on the Gold Coast issued a warning to parents on the school’s Facebook page stating, “This is a new elite athlete drink that is in high demand.”
“It clearly states on the packaging that these drinks are ‘not suitable for children under 15 years of age’,” Principal Jemille Malouf said in the post.
Why the hype
The Prime energy drinks were founded by social media influencers KSI and Logan Paul which has created a huge frenzy around the beverage. It has been reported that stock has run out in the UK and the US, due to the immense following of influencers Logan Paul and KSI, who have 40 million YouTube subscribers between them.
The hype around the drink has created frenzied scenes among teenagers at some Woolworths stores, where a caffeine-free “hydration” sports version of Prime is available for purchase.
It does also contain a disclaimer on the label that states it is not suitable for children under the age of 15, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and should only be used under medical or dietetic supervision.
Prime energy
The Prime energy drink contains almost double the legal limit of caffeine per 100ml and is not available in Australia.
However, they can be bought on resale websites and it is believed students are gaining access to them online.
The Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) code limits the maximum amount of caffeine allowed in a drink to 32mg per 100ml.
A can of Prime contains double the legal limit — about 56mg per 100ml.
Ingredients include:
Carbonated Filtered Water, Coconut Water from Concentrate, Citric Acid, Natural Flavour, Calcium Lactate, Magnesium Citrate, Potassium Citrate, Sodium Citrate, Caffeine, Sucralose, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, L-Theanine, Inositol, Glucuronolactone, Taurine, Acesulfame, Potassium, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) & Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12).
Prime hydration
A caffeine-free version, Prime Hydration, has been selling out in Woolworths supermarkets. However, it too states that it is not suitable for children under the age of 15, or pregnant or breastfeeding women.
“The marketing of energy drinks (and Prime energy) is highly attractive to young people,” Dr Trapp said.
“Energy drink advertisements promise consumers improved energy, performance and concentration, thus young consumers may falsely believe that more is better and consumer multiple servings – putting them at even greater health risk.”
It is not suitable for children under 15 because it contains high levels of Vitamin A & Zinc which can be damaging if too much is consumed. It also uses certain artificial sweeteners which are known to cause nausea, vomiting & diarrhoea in some people.
Ingredients include:
WATER, FRUIT JUICE FROM CONCENTRATE (COCONUT, 10%), FOOD ACID (CITRIC ACID), ACIDITY REGULATORS (DIPOTASSIUM PHOSPHATE, TRIMAGNESIUM CITRATE), NATURAL FLAVOURING, SWEETENERS (SUCRALOSE, ACESULFAME POTASSIUM), L-ISOLEUCINE, L-LEUCINE, L-VALINE, COLOUR (BETA CAROTENE), ANTIOXIDANT (VITAMIN E), VITAMINS (A, B6, B12). BCAA BLEND: 250MG PER 500mL SERVING (L-ISOLEUCINE, L-LEUCINE, L-VALINE)
Parents are considered about the lack of regulation around the product and are calling for more bans to be put in place.
Have your kids been desperate to get their hands on Prime?
