‘Check the label’: Health warning as drinks pulled from shelves

Energy drinks with nearly double the maximum allowed levels of caffeine have been removed from store shelves in a major crackdown blitz. About 700 drinks, including GFUEL and Bang and Rase, were seized from South Australian retailers after it was revealed they contained 300mg of caffeine in just 437ml, well exceeding the legal caffeine limit of 320mg per litre. SA Health inspectors found 18 stores were selling the highly caffeinated drinks, with two businesses fined $3000 while 13 were issued warning letters. Acting Chief Public Health Officer Chris Lease said eight holding orders were also placed on energy drinks brands by the Australian Department for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, according to The Advertiser. “What those holding orders do is they identify the products that need to be intercepted at the border and they’re held at the border to stop them coming in,” he said. Mr Lease urged people to check the label for the caffeine level before purchasing energy drinks, according to The Guardian. “We’re working with retailers to educate them on the regulations and stop these drinks from making their way on to shelves, and issuing penalties to repeat offenders,” he said. SA Health Minister Chris Picton said the drinks targeted kids “directly” with video game and cartoon characters featured on the packaging according to The Advertiser. “They’ve now been taken off the streets, particularly because of the impact that they have on our kids,” he said. Such high levels of caffeine can reportedly increase the risk of heart palpitations, chest pains and shortness of breath.