Energy drinks causing renal, other disorders among consumers

Both local and foreign branded carbonated sugar and energy drinks are causing renal and other disorders among consumers due to availability of ingredients more than international standard levels.
Though a BSTI (Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution) move in reducing the caffeine level in carbonated soft drinks is on the way, it is yet to get the final nod from the higher authority.
Users of different age groups (young generation in particular) are becoming addicted to the beverages as caffeine and other narcotic ingredients that have been detected in several laboratories create sedative feelings.
An official at the BSTI, requesting not to be named, said, "We have set caffeine level in carbonated soft drinks up to maximum 200 ppm (parts per million) but we do not have any code for energy drinks."
He said energy drinks of most of the local and foreign brands have more than 350 ppm level of caffeine and the matter is related with the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) for taking any action.
According to a source, the heavy metal level in soft drinks has been set by the government.
The BSTI source said among heavy metal standards in soft drinks arsenic is maximum 0.01 mg/kg, lead 0.01 mg/kg, copper 1.0 mg/kg and iron 1.0 mg/kg.
He said, "We always find the required levels of both caffeine and heavy metals in carbonated soft drinks and the renowned companies try to maintain the levels."
But a source at the BCSIR (Bangladesh Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) said if random sampling from the market is done, there may be more than the BSTI set levels in many cases.
Among the carbonated soft drinks the major brands are manufactured by Pepsi Cola, Coca Cola, RC Cola, Virgin, Sun Crest, Mojo and Pran.
Other major brands in the name of carbonated beverage are Sting, Power, Boss, Royal Tiger and Speed.
A source at the DNC said, "We were concerned about some energy drink brands as they use excessive sedative ingredients."
He said as the BSTI does not have any energy drink code, the (energy drink) business is facing trouble in getting licence.
According to a source at the Pepsi Cola, every year the carbonated beverage market is growing by 15 per cent.
He said in the current soft drink market of 80 million cases, Pepsi is holding the major share with 44 per cent, Coca Cola with 24 per cent and others 32 per cent.
Apart from local manufacturers, a good number of beverages are being imported every year.
Neither BSTI nor the DNC has any control over imported energy drinks.
According to experts, the imported energy drinks contain excessive level of caffeine and other sedative ingredients.
A former BSTI director general said as the state-owned standards organisation does not have control over such energy drinks, the matter was forwarded to the DNC.
He said several meetings were also held in presence of ministers, representatives of the BSTI and the DNC relating to energy drinks.
"But I do not know about the outcome of the meetings", he said.
A local investor said as Bangladesh is a large market for beverages and every year investments are increasing in this sector, the government should follow international standards relating to ingredients considering the public health issue.
He said as per the standards of USFDA, the EU and other countries, the levels of caffeine and other ingredients are very low here; so their per capita consumption is also higher than those of many other countries.
He expressed hope that gradually Bangladesh's carbonated beverages would follow international standards and the BSTI technical committee would also be more knowledgeable in forming codes and standards congenial to public health.
Speaking on the issue BSTI Director General Iqramul Haque said, "We implement and check the standards which are designed by our committee."
He said there are some parameters set by the technical committee relating to carbonated sugar drinks and these are being implemented and randomly checked by us.
Meanwhile, a professor of the nephrology department at BSMMU (Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University) said, "Use of caffeine and sedative-mixed energy drinks are causing severe health hazards among consumers. This is harmful for children and young adults as they are getting addicted to such beverages."