FDA rejects energy drink petition

Executive Summary

The agency denies a citizen petition requesting enhanced labeling requirements for energy drinks due to a lack of information providing "an adequate basis for the issuance of regulations that identify specific labeling requirements for sports and energy beverages." The April 2002 petition submitted by Arthur Blank maintains that energy drinks should be labeled with a statement of the product's osmolality and tonicity - qualities denoting how readily the beverage is absorbed into the blood stream. Such labeling would give consumers "a better understanding of that product's capabilities of performing." FDA's response, posted Feb. 13, says Blank fails to show how the labeling requirements would promote the public interest or the objectives of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act