Attorney General Ken Paxton is investigating Celsius over claims it markets energy drinks to youths after a lawsuit alleging a drink caused a Texas teen’s death.
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Thursday he has launched an investigation into Celsius Energy Drink Company over its alleged practices of marketing its energy drinks to teens and children.
The investigation comes after a Texas family filed a wrongful death lawsuit alleging that their 17-year-old daughter, Larissa Rodriguez, a cheerleader at Weslaco High School, died because of an enlarged heart and a large amount of caffeine. The family’s lawsuit targets an energy drink distributer that distributed Alani Nu energy drinks, claiming these beverages were “dangerously formulated and inadequately labeled.”
Celsius is the owner of Alani Nutrition, LLC, which sells the energy drink commonly known as Alani Nu.
In his announcement, Paxton says that while Alani Nu is marketed to young adults, its colorful packaging, playful design elements and youth-oriented branding strategies appeal to younger customers. Paxton says this raises questions over if the company is making deliberate decisions to market a potentially harmful product to an at-risk population.
Paxton says that Alani Nu’s packaging typically lists the caffeine amount, but it does not provide any additional warnings related to age or potential heart-health risks. He notes the example of the allegations laid out in the lawsuit filed by Rodriguez’s family. Paxton said Alani Nu’s lack of warnings may have cost the teen her life.
“Texas families deserve to know that the products marketed to their children are safe and not filled with dangerous levels of certain ingredients,” Paxton said. “The tragic death of a 17-year-old Texas girl allegedly caused by consuming a highly caffeinated energy drink is a sobering reminder of what is at stake when companies prioritize profit over the safety and wellbeing of our children. I am looking into Celsius and Alani Nu to prevent more cases like this one and to ensure Texans are made aware of the any risks that come with consuming certain energy drink products.”
The Office of the Attorney General is investigating to see if Celsius and Alani mislead consumers about the safety of its product for teens and children in violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.