Latest news with #energyDrinks
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Monster Beverage achieves 'record' quarterly net sales
Monster Beverage Corp. says it has booked 'record' quarterly net sales in its second quarter, reaching just above $2bn. The US-based company, known for its Monster energy drinks, reported a net sales increase of 11.1% to $2.11bn in its second quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year. In a statement containing its results for the period ended 30 June, Hilton Schlosberg, CEO of Monster Beverage, said: We achieved record net sales for the second quarter, exceeding the $2bn mark for the first time, underscoring the strength of our brands, talent of our team, and continued appeal of our products around the world. "The quarter's performance also reflects the success of our product innovations, which are resonating strongly with consumers." The performance also 'reflects the success of our product innovations, which are resonating strongly with consumers', Schlosberg added. In its second quarter, the Monster Energy Drinks segment, which includes Monster Energy drinks, Reign Total Body Fuel, and Bang Energy drinks, saw net sales rise 11.2% to $1.94bn. Monster Beverage's Strategic Brands segment, which holds energy-drink brands acquired from The Coca-Cola Co featuring brands such as Predator and Fury, saw net sales increase 18.9% to $129.9m. The group's Alcohol Brands division, however didn't see the same growth. The unit, which includes products like The Beast Hard Tea, witnessed a 8.6% decline in net sales in the second quarter, to $38m. Monster Beverage recorded impairment charges on its alcohol business its fourth quarter of 2024. Speaking to analysts on a call in March, the company's former co-CEO Rodney Sacks, said: 'The impairment charges were primarily the result of operating and financial performance not meeting projections due in part to challenges in the category, as well as the decrease in projected ongoing operating and financial performance.' Monster Beverage's operating income in its second quarter of 2025 rose 19.8% to $631.6m. Net income for the period climbed 14.9% to $488.8m. Commenting on its second quarter and six month results for 2025, Schlosberg added: 'Increased household penetration and per capita consumption of energy drinks remain positive trends for the category. Our robust pipeline of innovative products remains central to our long-term growth strategy.'. For the six months ending 30 June 2025, the company's net sales increased 4.4% to $3.97bn. Operating income for this period reached $1.2bn, while net income grew by 7.4% to $931.8m. "Monster Beverage achieves 'record' quarterly net sales " was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Celsius Leverages Alani Nu And Zero-Sugar Trends To Capture New Market Share
Celsius Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:CELH) shares are trading higher on Friday. On Thursday, the company reported second-quarter adjusted earnings per share of 47 cents, beating the analyst consensus estimate of 23 cents. Quarterly sales of $739.259 million (+84% year over year) outpaced the Street view of $633.582 million. The sales increase was primarily driven by $301.2 million of revenue from the Alani Nu brand, acquired on April analyst Gerald Pascarelli reiterated the Buy rating on the stock, raising the price forecast from $55 to $60. Pascarelli noted that after a standout quarter and simultaneous market share gains in both its core offerings and the Alani brand, Celsius remains a 'Conviction List Pick', leading to a price target increase to $60. He highlighted that the favorable U.S. energy drink environment, supported by ongoing innovation, new limited-time offerings, and inevitable shelf-space gains, should drive accelerating revenue through 2026. As Alani scales and integrates further into the business, combined with acquisition synergies set to impact operating expense next year, the consolidated cost structure and margin profile are poised to improve. Consequently, Pascarelli raised estimates, expecting these dynamics to translate into meaningful EBITDA upside. Pascarelli said that as the No. 3 energy player, Celsius should see revenue 're-accelerate' on a healthier category, a shift toward zero-sugar products, easier year-ago comparisons and the removal of previous inventory headwinds. Pascarelli said that while Celsius could achieve a consolidated gross margin above 52% this year with operating expenses at the low end of the 32–34% guidance, the analyst is conservatively discounting gross margins by about 100 basis points to 51.5% and forecasting opex at 33.1% amid a volatile backdrop and rising Midwest Premium. The analyst added that these cautious assumptions should leave room for upside to EBITDA if no unforeseen headwinds arise. Price Action: CELH shares are trading higher by 2.08% to $51.16 at last check Friday. Read Next:Photo by MDV Edwards via Shutterstock Latest Ratings for CELH Date Firm Action From To Nov 2021 Stifel Initiates Coverage On Buy Nov 2021 B. Riley Securities Maintains Buy Nov 2021 Credit Suisse Downgrades Outperform Neutral View More Analyst Ratings for CELH View the Latest Analyst Ratings UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? CELSIUS HOLDINGS (CELH): Free Stock Analysis Report This article Celsius Leverages Alani Nu And Zero-Sugar Trends To Capture New Market Share originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
RNZ News
7 days ago
- Health
- RNZ News
Fears Vitamin B6 levels in energy drinks linked to rise in blood toxicity
By Tom Hartley of ABC Energy drinks like these can contain high levels of Vitamin B6. Photo: ABC News / Cameron Lang Concerns are mounting in Australia over an ingredient in energy drinks that has been linked to a growing number of life-altering blood toxicity cases. Vitamin B6 is considered an essential vitamin and is widely available in a balanced diet, with a recommended daily intake of just 1.3mg - 1.7mg per day for adults. But debilitating health problems can occur when a manufactured form of B6 - also known as pyridoxine hydrochloride, pyridoxamine, or pyridoxal - is consumed in excess. A 250ml can of Red Bull contains 5 milligrams of Vitamin B6, a 500ml can of Mother 4.3 milligrams per serve and a 500ml can of BSC Energy 10mg. "There's no good reason why energy drinks need to have six times the recommended daily intake of B6 in them," Australia's George Institute food policy researcher, Associate Professor Alexandra Jones told ABC's 7.30 . Dr Alexandra Jones says there is no reason for such high levels of Vitamin B6 as there are in some energy drinks. Photo: ABC News / Craig Hansen "And while it's unlikely that you would exceed the upper limit by drinking energy drinks alone, there is a subset of the population that are likely to be simultaneously consuming energy drinks and other supplements which could also contain high levels of B6," she said. B6 is added to thousands of vitamin supplements and fortified food products - from magnesium and zinc to breakfast cereals and protein bars. Blood test data obtained by 7.30 from Australian pathology labs Sullivan Nicolaides has revealed more than 2700 'probable' cases of neuropathy or other health issues attributed to B6 blood toxicity have occurred since January this year. "Typical consumption patterns mean people are getting much higher doses, not just from the individual products but multiple products," Dr Terri-Lynne South, a dietitian and GP said. Dr Terri-Lynne South is an advocate for greater warnings about levels of Vitamin B6. Photo: ABC News / Cameron Lang Dr South is one of several health practitioners advocating for tighter regulations - as more cases of B6 toxicity emerge. "For the energy drinks containing 10mg of B6 - if they were vitamin supplements - they'd have to show a warning on the label," Dr South told 7.30 . "There's only one reason to have a supplement for B6 - and that's if there is proven deficiency or risk of deficiency." The Australian and New Zealand Food Standards agency (FSANZ) set the limit for B6 in energy drinks at 10mg per day, around the time Red Bull entered the Australian market. "Formulated caffeinated beverages must carry an advisory statement that no more than a 'one-day quantity' should be consumed if they contain certain substances, including vitamin B6," a spokesperson told 7.30 . Last month the country's medicines regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), made several recommendations. It called for vitamin supplements with more than 50mg of B6 to be taken off shelves and moved behind pharmacy counters. Supplements take up major space in pharmacies. Photo: ABC News / Jerry Rickard A TGA delegate last month wrote that FSANZ should consider the "appropriateness of the 10 mg limit for vitamin B6 in formulated caffeinated beverages, considering the risks from the use of multiple products containing Vitamin B6". The same delegate also described the benefits of synthetic B6 as 'negligible', said labelling is 'inconsistent' and 'confusing' and called on the multi-billion-dollar complementary medicines sector to initiate education campaigns. A spokesperson for FSANZ said: "If evidence emerges that consumers are regularly exceeding safe intake levels, FSANZ would consider raising a proposal to review the current permissions." FSANZ did not answer questions regarding how it monitors such evidence. Jones said the agency typically prioritises cases where the adverse effects are immediate, not cumulative. "They're very focused on the immediate health risks of a product, so whether it would make you sick overnight, for example," she said. B6 levels in food and drink could become an issue for the food standards body. Photo: ABC News / Cameron Lang "But the energy drinks market has changed quite a lot since the first products emerged, and our consumption of them is growing, so if new health risks are emerging, it would be reasonable for FSANZ to review that standard." Geoff Parker, the chief executive of the Australian Beverages Council issued a statement on behalf of Australia's energy drinks companies. He didn't answer 7.30' s questions and instead compared his sector's products against complementary medicines. "Laws regulating energy drinks in Australia are among the most stringent in the world," he told 7.30 . "Some popular multivitamin supplements contain about 25 mg of B6 - at least five times the average B6 in energy drinks sold in Australia. "The ... upper level of safe intake [is] 50 mg a day for adults. The average level of B6 in energy drinks sold in Australia is approximately 2.1mg for a 250ml serve." The regulations however don't prevent unprecedented or unlikely cases. Matthew was taking Berooca daily and his use resulted in peripheral neuropathy. Photo: ABC News / Cameron Lang Matthew* began taking Berocca daily last August after a colleague recommended it for an afternoon energy boost. The 56-year-old has a prominent public profile and asked 7.30 not to use his real name. "I work in a high-pressure environment ... by mid-afternoon, the energy levels start to wane ... one of my colleagues was having a Berocca - he said 'it gives you a boost', so I tried it, and it turned into a habit." What started as a daily pick-me-up soon escalated - at times, he was having two Beroccas in one drink. Then came the symptoms. "I felt a tingle - some pins and needles - in my left hand, it moved up my arm, then to my right hand, then into my legs, there were terrible burning sensations." Concerned about stroke or heart problems, he underwent tests for blood cancer and multiple sclerosis. His doctor eventually suggested a neurologist. "I was at work and my whole body would be burning inside - pins and needles - but with this burning sensation in my limbs." "I was poisoning myself while [I was] trying to work out how I've poisoned myself." Still, he continued taking Berocca but concedes he was likely taking too much of the product. Supplements with high levels of B6 in them have caused cases of B6 toxicity. Photo: ABC News / Tom Hartley After months of suffering came the call from his GP. "He said 'you have to stop taking vitamin supplements'… I said, 'what are you talking about? I've never taken vitamins' And he said 'it's Vitamin B6'." Tests revealed Matthew had nearly three times the toxic level of B6 in his bloodstream. He stopped taking Berocca immediately. And while his symptoms improved within weeks, some burning sensations remain. "I haven't had any peripheral neuropathy for a month," he said. The mental toll though has been severe. "This has rocked my world, mentally … how could I be this f***ing stupid? … I never in the life of me thought it was dangerous … I just thought you'd urinate it out. "I am so careful about the food that I put in my mouth, the restrictions I have on drinking, the fact I exercise religiously. "I've never had serious mental issues - I'm a glass-half-full person - I don't think I've got a propensity towards depression or anything like that. "But I certainly was depressed about this - this has rocked my world, mentally." There are no warnings on Berocca packaging. Instead, it claims to improve physical energy "when consumed daily for 28 days". Berocca's parent company, pharmaceutical giant Bayer, said it is "committed to consumer safety and regulatory compliance". "All our over-the-counter products ... comply fully with TGA labelling requirements, including ingredient disclosure, dosage, and safety warnings. We will continue to abide by TGA rules and requirements." In 2020 Monique's blood became toxic after consuming protein shakes and multivitamins, she never realised the combined B6 levels were extreme. Monique has battled issues with B6 toxicity. Photo: ABC News "It took about a year to be diagnosed," the 35-year-old told 7.30 . "The worst state that I was in was being bed-bound for about six months, once the vestibular migraine started and I lost my balance completely." Monique believes during her recovery her symptoms were exacerbated when unwittingly consuming small amounts of B6 in a fortified drink. "I was doing really well, I was exercising again, and carefully checking everything I was eating, but after nine months of improvement I became complacent - I didn't think to check the back of the label," she said. Monique could not provide evidence concluding the fortified drink was a causal factor. Dr South believes much of the marketing around B6 is misleading. "Most of these products, promoting B-vitamins, are marketed as 'energy-giving', and that comes from the understanding that a lot of these vitamins are co-factors of generating energy in cells," she told 7.30 . "We're starting to see it in multivitamin minerals from the chemist, but we need better regulations in these higher food products, especially energy drinks. "This increases the impetus for regulators like Food Standards Australian New Zealand the Therapeutic Goods Administration to coordinate together, because it's about the cumulative risks of this amount of B6 being in our food supply. "People are inadvertently overdosing and now we're starting to see the consequences." - ABC
RNZ News
7 days ago
- Health
- RNZ News
Fears Vitamin B6 levels in energy drinks like Red Bull and Monster could contribute to rise in B6 toxicity cases
By Tom Hartley Energy drinks like these can contain high levels of Vitamin B6. Photo: ABC News / Cameron Lang Concerns are mounting over an ingredient in energy drinks that has been linked to a growing number of life-altering blood toxicity cases. Vitamin B6 is considered an essential vitamin and is widely available in a balanced diet, with a recommended daily intake of just 1.3mg - 1.7mg per day for adults. But debilitating health problems can occur when a manufactured form of B6 - also known as pyridoxine hydrochloride, pyridoxamine, or pyridoxal - is consumed in excess. A 250ml can of Red Bull contains 5 milligrams of Vitamin B6, a 500ml can of Mother 4.3 milligrams per serve and a 500ml can of BSC Energy 10mg. "There's no good reason why energy drinks need to have six times the recommended daily intake of B6 in them," George Institute food policy researcher, Associate Professor Alexandra Jones told 7.30 . Dr Alexandra Jones says there is no reason for such high levels of Vitamin B6 as there are in some energy drinks. Photo: ABC News / Craig Hansen "And while it's unlikely that you would exceed the upper limit by drinking energy drinks alone, there is a subset of the population that are likely to be simultaneously consuming energy drinks and other supplements which could also contain high levels of B6," she said. B6 is added to thousands of vitamin supplements and fortified food products - from magnesium and zinc to breakfast cereals and protein bars. Blood test data obtained by 7.30 from Australian pathology labs Sullivan Nicolaides has revealed more than 2700 'probable' cases of neuropathy or other health issues attributed to B6 blood toxicity have occurred since January this year. "Typical consumption patterns mean people are getting much higher doses, not just from the individual products but multiple products," Dr Terri-Lynne South, a dietitian and GP said. Dr Terri-Lynne South is an advocate for greater warnings about levels of Vitamin B6. Photo: ABC News / Cameron Lang Dr South is one of several health practitioners advocating for tighter regulations - as more cases of B6 toxicity emerge. "For the energy drinks containing 10mg of B6 - if they were vitamin supplements - they'd have to show a warning on the label," Dr South told 7.30 . "There's only one reason to have a supplement for B6 - and that's if there is proven deficiency or risk of deficiency." The Australian and New Zealand Food Standards agency (FSANZ) set the limit for B6 in energy drinks at 10mg per day, around the time Red Bull entered the Australian market. "Formulated caffeinated beverages must carry an advisory statement that no more than a 'one-day quantity' should be consumed if they contain certain substances, including vitamin B6," a spokesperson told 7.30 . Last month the country's medicines regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), made several recommendations. It called for vitamin supplements with more than 50mg of B6 to be taken off shelves and moved behind pharmacy counters. Supplements take up major space in pharmacies. Photo: ABC News / Jerry Rickard A TGA delegate last month wrote that FSANZ should consider the "appropriateness of the 10 mg limit for vitamin B6 in formulated caffeinated beverages, considering the risks from the use of multiple products containing Vitamin B6". The same delegate also described the benefits of synthetic B6 as 'negligible', said labelling is 'inconsistent' and 'confusing' and called on the multi-billion-dollar complementary medicines sector to initiate education campaigns. A spokesperson for FSANZ said: "If evidence emerges that consumers are regularly exceeding safe intake levels, FSANZ would consider raising a proposal to review the current permissions." FSANZ did not answer questions regarding how it monitors such evidence. Jones said the agency typically prioritises cases where the adverse effects are immediate, not cumulative. "They're very focused on the immediate health risks of a product, so whether it would make you sick overnight, for example," she said. B6 levels in food and drink could become an issue for the food standards body. Photo: ABC News / Cameron Lang "But the energy drinks market has changed quite a lot since the first products emerged, and our consumption of them is growing, so if new health risks are emerging, it would be reasonable for FSANZ to review that standard." Geoff Parker, the chief executive of the Australian Beverages Council issued a statement on behalf of Australia's energy drinks companies. He didn't answer 7.30' s questions and instead compared his sector's products against complementary medicines. "Laws regulating energy drinks in Australia are among the most stringent in the world," he told 7.30 . "Some popular multivitamin supplements contain about 25 mg of B6 - at least five times the average B6 in energy drinks sold in Australia. "The ... upper level of safe intake [is] 50 mg a day for adults. The average level of B6 in energy drinks sold in Australia is approximately 2.1mg for a 250ml serve." The regulations however don't prevent unprecedented or unlikely cases. Matthew was taking Berooca daily and his use resulted in peripheral neuropathy. Photo: ABC News / Cameron Lang Matthew* began taking Berocca daily last August after a colleague recommended it for an afternoon energy boost. The 56-year-old has a prominent public profile and asked 7.30 not to use his real name. "I work in a high-pressure environment ... by mid-afternoon, the energy levels start to wane ... one of my colleagues was having a Berocca - he said 'it gives you a boost', so I tried it, and it turned into a habit." What started as a daily pick-me-up soon escalated - at times, he was having two Beroccas in one drink. Then came the symptoms. "I felt a tingle - some pins and needles - in my left hand, it moved up my arm, then to my right hand, then into my legs, there were terrible burning sensations." Concerned about stroke or heart problems, he underwent tests for blood cancer and multiple sclerosis. His doctor eventually suggested a neurologist. "I was at work and my whole body would be burning inside - pins and needles - but with this burning sensation in my limbs." "I was poisoning myself while [I was] trying to work out how I've poisoned myself." Still, he continued taking Berocca but concedes he was likely taking too much of the product. Supplements with high levels of B6 in them have caused cases of B6 toxicity. Photo: ABC News / Tom Hartley After months of suffering came the call from his GP. "He said 'you have to stop taking vitamin supplements'… I said, 'what are you talking about? I've never taken vitamins' And he said 'it's Vitamin B6'." Tests revealed Matthew had nearly three times the toxic level of B6 in his bloodstream. He stopped taking Berocca immediately. And while his symptoms improved within weeks, some burning sensations remain. "I haven't had any peripheral neuropathy for a month," he said. The mental toll though has been severe. "This has rocked my world, mentally … how could I be this f***ing stupid? … I never in the life of me thought it was dangerous … I just thought you'd urinate it out. "I am so careful about the food that I put in my mouth, the restrictions I have on drinking, the fact I exercise religiously. "I've never had serious mental issues - I'm a glass-half-full person - I don't think I've got a propensity towards depression or anything like that. "But I certainly was depressed about this - this has rocked my world, mentally." There are no warnings on Berocca packaging. Instead, it claims to improve physical energy "when consumed daily for 28 days". Berocca's parent company, pharmaceutical giant Bayer, said it is "committed to consumer safety and regulatory compliance". "All our over-the-counter products ... comply fully with TGA labelling requirements, including ingredient disclosure, dosage, and safety warnings. We will continue to abide by TGA rules and requirements." In 2020 Monique's blood became toxic after consuming protein shakes and multivitamins, she never realised the combined B6 levels were extreme. Monique has battled issues with B6 toxicity. Photo: ABC News "It took about a year to be diagnosed," the 35-year-old told 7.30 . "The worst state that I was in was being bed-bound for about six months, once the vestibular migraine started and I lost my balance completely." Monique believes during her recovery her symptoms were exacerbated when unwittingly consuming small amounts of B6 in a fortified drink. "I was doing really well, I was exercising again, and carefully checking everything I was eating, but after nine months of improvement I became complacent - I didn't think to check the back of the label," she said. Monique could not provide evidence concluding the fortified drink was a causal factor. Dr South believes much of the marketing around B6 is misleading. "Most of these products, promoting B-vitamins, are marketed as 'energy-giving', and that comes from the understanding that a lot of these vitamins are co-factors of generating energy in cells," she told 7.30 . "We're starting to see it in multivitamin minerals from the chemist, but we need better regulations in these higher food products, especially energy drinks. "This increases the impetus for regulators like Food Standards Australian New Zealand the Therapeutic Goods Administration to coordinate together, because it's about the cumulative risks of this amount of B6 being in our food supply. "People are inadvertently overdosing and now we're starting to see the consequences." - ABC
ABC News
04-08-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Fears Vitamin B6 levels in energy drinks like Red Bull and Monster could contribute to rise in B6 toxicity cases
Concerns are mounting over an ingredient in energy drinks that has been linked to a growing number of life-altering blood toxicity cases. Vitamin B6 is considered an essential vitamin and is widely available in a balanced diet, with a recommended daily intake of just 1.3mg — 1.7mg per day for adults. But debilitating health problems can occur when a manufactured form of B6 — also known as pyridoxine hydrochloride, pyridoxamine, or pyridoxal — is consumed in excess. A 250ml can of Red Bull contains 5 milligrams of Vitamin B6, a 500ml can of Mother 4.3 milligrams per serve and a 500ml can of BSC Energy 10mg. "There's no good reason why energy drinks need to have six times the recommended daily intake of B6 in them," George Institute food policy researcher, Associate Professor Alexandra Jones told 730. "And while it's unlikely that you would exceed the upper limit by drinking energy drinks alone, there is a subset of the population that are likely to be simultaneously consuming energy drinks and other supplements which could also contain high levels of B6," she said. B6 is added to thousands of vitamin supplements and fortified food products — from magnesium and zinc to breakfast cereals and protein bars. Blood test data obtained by 7.30 from Australian pathology labs Sullivan Nicolaides has revealed more than 2,700 'probable' cases of neuropathy or other health issues attributed to B6 blood toxicity have occurred since January this year. "Typical consumption patterns mean people are getting much higher doses, not just from the individual products but multiple products," Dr Terri-Lynne South, a dietitian and GP said. Dr South is one of several health practitioners advocating for tighter regulations — as more cases of B6 toxicity emerge. "For the energy drinks containing 10mg of B6 — if they were vitamin supplements — they'd have to show a warning on the label," Dr South told 7.30. "There's only one reason to have a supplement for B6 — and that's if there is proven deficiency or risk of deficiency." The Australian and New Zealand Food Standards agency (FSANZ) set the limit for B6 in energy drinks at 10mg per day, around the time Red Bull entered the Australian market. "Formulated caffeinated beverages must carry an advisory statement that no more than a 'one-day quantity' should be consumed if they contain certain substances, including vitamin B6," a spokesperson told 7.30. Last month the country's medicines regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), made several recommendations It called for vitamin supplements with more than 50mg of B6 to be taken off shelves and moved behind pharmacy counters. A TGA delegate last month wrote that FSANZ should consider the "appropriateness of the 10 mg limit for vitamin B6 in formulated caffeinated beverages, considering the risks from the use of multiple products containing Vitamin B6." The same delegate also described the benefits of synthetic B6 as 'negligible', said labelling is 'inconsistent' and 'confusing' and called on the multi-billion-dollar complementary medicines sector to initiate education campaigns. A spokesperson for FSANZ said: "If evidence emerges that consumers are regularly exceeding safe intake levels, FSANZ would consider raising a proposal to review the current permissions." FSANZ did not answer questions regarding how it monitors such evidence. Ms Jones said the agency typically prioritises cases where the adverse effects are immediate, not cumulative. "They're very focused on the immediate health risks of a product, so whether it would make you sick overnight, for example," she said. Geoff Parker, the CEO of the Australian Beverages Council issued a statement on behalf of Australia's energy drinks companies. He didn't answer 7.30's questions and instead compared his sector's products against complementary medicines. "Laws regulating energy drinks in Australia are among the most stringent in the world," he told 7.30. "Some popular multivitamin supplements contain about 25 mg of B6 — at least five times the average B6 in energy drinks sold in Australia. "The ... upper level of safe intake [is] 50 mg a day for adults. The average level of B6 in energy drinks sold in Australia is approximately 2.1mg for a 250ml serve." The regulations however don't prevent unprecedented or unlikely cases. Matthew* began taking Berocca daily last August after a colleague recommended it for an afternoon energy boost. The 56-year-old has a prominent public profile and asked 7.30 not to use his real name. "I work in a high-pressure environment ... by mid-afternoon, the energy levels start to wane ... one of my colleagues was having a Berocca — he said 'it gives you a boost', so I tried it, and it turned into a habit." What started as a daily pick-me-up soon escalated — at times, he was having two Beroccas in one drink. Then came the symptoms. "I felt a tingle — some pins and needles — in my left hand, it moved up my arm, then to my right hand, then into my legs, there were terrible burning sensations." Concerned about stroke or heart problems, he underwent tests for blood cancer and multiple sclerosis. His doctor eventually suggested a neurologist. "I was poisoning myself while [I was] trying to work out how I've poisoned myself." Still, he continued taking Berocca but concedes he was likely taking too much of the product. After months of suffering came the call from his GP. "He said 'you have to stop taking vitamin supplements'… I said, 'what are you talking about? I've never taken vitamins' And he said 'it's Vitamin B6'." Tests revealed Matthew had nearly three times the toxic level of B6 in his bloodstream. He stopped taking Berocca immediately. And while his symptoms improved within weeks, some burning sensations remain. "I haven't had any peripheral neuropathy for a month," he said. The mental toll though has been severe. "I am so careful about the food that I put in my mouth, the restrictions I have on drinking, the fact I exercise religiously. "I've never had serious mental issues — I'm a glass-half-full person — I don't think I've got a propensity towards depression or anything like that. "But I certainly was depressed about this — this has rocked my world, mentally." There are no warnings on Berocca packaging. Instead, it claims to improve physical energy "when consumed daily for 28 days." Berocca's parent company, pharmaceutical giant Bayer, said it is "committed to consumer safety and regulatory compliance". "All our over-the-counter products ... comply fully with TGA labelling requirements, including ingredient disclosure, dosage, and safety warnings. We will continue to abide by TGA rules and requirements." In 2020 Monique's blood became toxic after consuming protein shakes and multivitamins, she never realised the combined B6 levels were extreme. "It took about a year to be diagnosed," the 35-year-old told 7.30. "The worst state that I was in was being bed-bound for about six months, once the vestibular migraine started and I lost my balance completely. Monique believes during her recovery her symptoms were exacerbated when unwittingly consuming small amounts of B6 in a fortified drink. "I was doing really well, I was exercising again, and carefully checking everything I was eating, but after nine months of improvement I became complacent — I didn't think to check the back of the label," she said. Monique could not provide evidence concluding the fortified drink was a causal factor. Dr South believes much of the marketing around B6 is misleading. "Most of these products, promoting B-vitamins, are marketed as 'energy-giving', and that comes from the understanding that a lot of these vitamins are co-factors of generating energy in cells," she told 7.30. "We're starting to see it in multivitamin minerals from the chemist, but we need better regulations in these higher food products, especially energy drinks. "This increases the impetus for regulators like Food Standards Australian New Zealand the Therapeutic Goods Administration to coordinate together, because it's about the cumulative risks of this amount of B6 being in our food supply. Watch 7.30, Mondays to Thursdays 7:30pm on ABC iview and ABC TV Do you know more about this story? Get in touch with 7.30 here.
