Blumenthal calls for stronger oversight on energy drinks.
The Hill (10/25, Cox, 21K) “Floor Action” blog reports that Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) lauded the Food and Drug Administration’s “decision Tuesday to investigate an energy drink linked to five deaths.” Noting that “Monster Energy Drink has been connected to one non-fatal heart attack, in addition to the five deaths,” Blumenthal said stronger regulation “is needed on popular energy drinks, which are commonly consumed by children.” Blumenthal and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) initially, “called on the FDA to investigate energy drinks during the summer, saying increased scrutiny is needed. ‘These tragic deaths show the severe risks affecting certain consumers of these products,'” Blumenthal said on Tuesday.