Functional beverages has been a growing segment, even in the midst of an economic downturn, but manufacturers are realizing that consumers -- and regulators -- are looking ever more closely at their ingredients, attributes and claims.
A spike in the consumption of sports and energy drinks, especially among teens, is irreversibly damaging the tooth enamel with their high acid content, says a study.
The American Beverage Assn. (ABA) recently took issue with a federal report arguing it failed to account for the overall health of energy beverage consumers. This followed controversy and concern over a rise in emergency room visits involving energy drinks.
Energy drinks are certainly not listless in terms of new product development, and beverage makers are taking proactive stances to address the controversy.
Premier Beverage Group founder and president Fouad Kallamni cited a Morgan Stanley industry report on strong, sustained growth in the energy drink market as reason for optimism in 2012.
An expert panel for Health Canada has targeted energy drinks in a report saying that drinks such as Red Bull, Rockstar and Monster should actually be renamed “stimulant drug containing drinks” and should only be sold under the direct supervision of a pharmacist.
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