Getty Image / Mike Kemp
Logan Paul somehow elevated himself from random Ohio kid to verifiable A-lister over the past 10 years. The 28-year-old got his start on the now-defunct Vine, has made a fortune from social media and various endeavors, including boxing recently.
One of those endeavors is an energy drink brand, PRIME, that he founded with fellow influencer KSI. According to Front Office Sports, PRIME did over $250 million in sales in its first year on the market in 2022, and sold $51.7 million worth in just four weeks earlier this year.
But, Logan Paul’s energy drink “Prime” could be under federal investigation soon, as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has asked the FDA to investigate the product for being too high in caffeine.
Here are more details, courtesy of the above article.
On Sunday, Sen. Charles Schumer called on the Food and Drug Administration to investigate PRIME, a beverage brand founded by the YouTube stars Logan Paul and KSI that has become something of an obsession among the influencers’ legions of young followers.
“One of the summer’s hottest status symbols for kids is not an outfit, or a toy—it’s a beverage,” said Schumer, a Democrat from New York. “But buyer and parents beware because it’s a serious health concern for the kids it so feverishly targets.”
Backed by two of YouTube’s best known stars, PRIME was an immediate sensation when it launched last year, prompting long lines in grocery stores and reports of school yard resale markets.
Advertising itself as zero sugar and vegan, the neon-colored cans are among a growing number of energy drinks with elevated levels of caffeine; in PRIME’s case, 200 milligrams per 12 ounces, equivalent to about half a dozen Coke cans or nearly two Red Bulls.
That high content prompted bans from some schools in the United Kingdom and Australia where some pediatricians warned of possible health impacts on young children such as heart problems, anxiety, and digestive issues.
Company representatives, meanwhile, have defended the product as clearly labeled “not recommended for children under 18.” They sell a separate sports drink, known as PRIME Hydration, which contains no caffeine at all. Representatives for PRIME did not immediately return a request for comment.
But in his letter to the FDA, Schumer claimed there was little noticeable difference in the online marketing of the two drinks — leading many parents to believe they were purchasing a juice for their kids, only to wind up with a “cauldron of caffeine.”
SIX Coca-Colas? Are kids bringing these to school and drinking them? Teachers don’t get paid enough to deal with that.
UPDATE: A Statement from Prime…
“PRIME has two drinks on the market, PRIME Hydration and PRIME Energy. It is very important to make the distinction between the two products because they are vastly different. We started PRIME last year with the launch of Hydration, a healthier sports drink alternative that comes in a bottle. PRIME Energy, sold in a can, dropped in 2023 and contains a comparable amount of caffeine to other top selling energy drinks, all falling within the legal limit of the countries it’s sold in. It complied with all FDA guidelines before hitting the market and states clearly on packaging, as well as in marketing materials, that it is an energy drink and is not made for anyone under the age of 18.
“As a brand, our top priority is consumer safety, so we welcome discussions with the FDA or any other organization regarding suggested industry changes they feel are necessary in order to protect consumers.”