--- description: Over 40% of calls to U.S. poison centers concerning energy drinks are for kids under age 6, according to a new study presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions. title: Energy Drinks Are Hurting Young Kids image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta33a2c3fb1be9f76/6986984a35ba6f40edc02a7b/energy_drinks.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Health](/section/health/) ## Health Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Diet & Nutrition](/tag/dietnutrition/) ## Diet & Nutrition Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Energy Drinks Are Hurting Young Kids by [Alexandra Sifferlin](/author/alexandra-sifferlin/) ## Alexandra Sifferlin Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Nov 17, 2014 7:37 PM CUT  Cans of energy drinks are displayed in a store in San Diego on November 10, 2006. Cans of energy drinks are displayed in a store in San Diego on November 10, 2006.AFP/Getty Images by [Alexandra Sifferlin](/author/alexandra-sifferlin/) ## Alexandra Sifferlin Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Nov 17, 2014 7:37 PM CUT Over 40% of calls to U.S. poison centers concerning energy drinks are for kids under age 6, some of whom reported experiencing symptoms like serious cardiac and neurological problems. In a [new study](http://blog.heart.org/poison-control-data-show-energy-drinks-young-kids-dont-mix/ "undefined") that examined the American Association of Poison Control Centers’ National Poison Data System, looking at reports from Oct. 2010 to Sept. 2013, researchers found that of the 5,156 reported cases of energy drink exposure, 40% where unintentional exposures by kids. Symptoms related to the heart, like abnormal rhythms, were noted in 57% of the reported cases. Neurological issues were reported in 55% of the cases.  American Heart Association [Prior data](http://time.com/6496/kids-are-drinking-more-energy-drinks/ "undefined") has shown that young kids are passing up caffeinated beverages like soda, but are instead consuming more energy drinks and coffee. The FDA is currently [investigating](http://www.fda.gov/downloads/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/UCM350740.pdf "undefined") the risks of added caffeine in products consumed by young people. The trouble with energy drinks is that they are not always regulated the same way as other beverages. For instance, some are considered dietary supplements, and don’t need FDA safety approval. The FDA considers caffeine to be safe, but some energy drinks can contain up to 400 milligrams (mg) of caffeine per can, as compared to 100-150 mg in a coffee, the study’s authors say. Researchers are unsure what part of energy drinks can cause adverse health problems. It’s possible other ingredients besides caffeine can result in medical issues. The American Beverage Association [responded](http://www.ameribev.org/news-media/news-releases-statements/more/340/ "undefined") to the study, which is not yet published but was presented recently at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions: --- > “” --- ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3589806/energy-drink-problems-kids/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3589806/energy-drink-problems-kids/"},"headline":"Energy Drinks Are Hurting Young Kids","datePublished":"2014-11-17T19:37:29.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T05:07:02.789Z","description":"Poison centers are fielding calls about adverse health events from energy drinks for kids as young as six","url":"https://time.com/3589806/energy-drink-problems-kids/","keywords":["Diet & Nutrition","Caffeine","Energy drinks","heart","red bull"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta33a2c3fb1be9f76/6986984a35ba6f40edc02a7b/energy_drinks.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Alexandra Sifferlin","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/alexandra-sifferlin/"}],"articleSection":"Health","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta33a2c3fb1be9f76/6986984a35ba6f40edc02a7b/energy_drinks.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"TO GO WITH AFP STORY-LIFESTYLE-US-DRINK-","caption":"TO GO WITH AFP STORY-LIFESTYLE-US-DRINK-","creditText":"AFP/Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/health/","name":"Health"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/dietnutrition/","name":"Diet & Nutrition"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3589806/energy-drink-problems-kids/","name":"Energy Drinks Are Hurting Young Kids"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Know Right Now: U.S. Pope Visit, Ferguson Decision, NFL Drug Raids, Great Chocolate Shortage","description":"Here are the trending stories for Monday Nov. 17","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/Wc181Ize/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2014-11-17T16:22:06.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/Wc181Ize.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/3589806/energy-drink-problems-kids/","duration":"PT1M19S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/3589806/energy-drink-problems-kids/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```