5-Hour Energy Makers Sued By 3 States

[Hum]

Oregon, Washington and Vermont sued the makers of 5-Hour Energy for allegedly deceptive and misleading advertising, and said similar suits will follow in other states in the coming weeks.

The Oregon lawsuit was filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court against the makers of the caffeine-charged beverage, Michigan-based manufacturer Living Essentials and its parent company Innovation Ventures.

Washington and Vermont filed similar suits, according to a statement released by Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson.

All three states are seeking a permanent injunction prohibiting 5-Hour Energy's allegedly deceptive marketing practices, as well as civil penalties and restitution to consumers.

 

"Plainly and simply, in Oregon you cannot promote a product as being effective if you don't have sufficient evidence to back up your advertising claims," Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum said in a statement.

A representative for 5-Hour Energy described the Oregon suit's allegations as "grasping at straws" and "civil intimidation" and said the companies would fight to defend themselves.

In its lawsuit, Oregon said advertising for 5-Hour Energy claimed the drink contained a unique combination of ingredients to boost energy, whereas its only effective ingredient was a concentrated dose of caffeine.

more

[FloatingFatMan]

If it just uses caffeine, there WILL be a crash later, making the ad a lie.

[+E.Worm Jimmy Subscriber¹]

If it just uses caffeine, there WILL be a crash later, making the ad a lie.

Well, it also has Vitamins B group, in large doses,  which INDEED give you energy (I take them without caffeine and I can feel a boost... and cannot sleep if I take them at night)

Vitamins B also help with less of a caffeine crash.  Unlike the other ingredients (which are most likely unproven and speculative in use in such small doses) Vitamins B are actually a proven tonic!

 

 

However, a large dose of caffeine WILL lead to a crash (it only matters how sensitive a specific person is)

[xrobwx71]

According to this article: http://www.forbes.com/sites/clareoconnor/2012/02/08/manoj-bhargava-the-mystery-monk-making-billions-with-5-hour-energy/

He is a party to over 90 lawsuits.

[cork1958]

Yay!!

 

Get that crap off the market. I don't even care if they're based in my state and people lose their jobs!

[Hum]

I'd think a bottle of Coke would be easier on your system.

[FloatingFatMan]

I'd think a bottle of Coke would be easier on your system.

 

Just have a coffee...

[+Warwagon MVC]

Just have a coffee...

 

I have my morning homemade mocha! OMG.... Sooooooo good.

[+Matthew S. Subscriber²]

I've taken 5-Hour on a few occasions (I was really in need of a boost) and I can tell you there was little to no caffeine crash.

Mind you there is enough caffeine in there that I did get the old caffeine shakes.

[Praetor]

The problem with these beverages is the amount of Vitamin B in them (and other stuff), as in massive doses; some cases they are the triple recommended amount an adult should take per day.

 

And kids drink that crap like water, many times I've seen them ingesting two or even tree cans in a single day...good bye kidneys!

[Quillz]

Most energy drinks are pretty bad, to be honest. Some of the Red Bull knockoffs contain barely legal ingredients and vitamins in amounts well above the RDA.

[adrynalyne]

5 Hour Energy results are real.  Probably really bad for you, but they are real.

 

Its the only thing that will keep me going when tired (coffee and caffeinated drinks won't do it).

[MorganX]

This one is going to be hard to prove. Some people who are sensitive enough can be on edge for up to 5 hours on caffeine. B-vitamins are requited for metabolism, they support energy production but don't give it to you. They are water soluble and don't last long in the body so they must be taken regularly. Taking them "with" the stimulant caffeine is a good idea. 5 hours, probably rare, but I don't see how they can "prove" it.

Just have a coffee...

A strong cup of black coffee is about 200mg caffeine. 2 of those and that's more than there is in most of these "supplements." Cheaper to just buy the caffeine, but it's not as cool I guess.

[adrynalyne]

It isn't just the caffeine.

 

Caffeine alone does nothing for me.

[MorganX]

It isn't just the caffeine.

 

Caffeine alone does nothing for me.

Citicoline can help you focus and feel more alert, but the only ingredient that can stimulate is caffeine. B-vitamins support energy production but do not stimulate anything.

Caffeine does a lot, it makes many other things last longer in the body, it helps liberate fat cells for use as energy, and is a direct stimulant among other things. Your CNS may not be over sensitive, you may never get jitters, but it does affect you if you're taking enough.

[adrynalyne]

I can drink several pots of coffee and go straight to bed :|

[+Warwagon MVC]

I can drink several pots of coffee and go straight to bed :|

 

How old are u?

 

When I was in my 20's I could do that all the time. Now if I drink coffee after 6pm i'm ######ed when I try to go to sleep.

[adrynalyne]

How old are u?

 

When I was in my 20's I could do that all the time. Now if I drink coffee after 6pm i'm ######ed when I try to go to sleep.

38.

[bradsday]

I have my morning homemade mocha! OMG.... Sooooooo good.

 

[Gerowen]

I've tried just about every energy drink out there.  Monster was too sweet.  Rockstar made my pee look like green antifreeze.  NOS was alright, but it seemed to make me a little jittery and when it wore off I was ready for bed.  Red Bull made me jittery and had a crash afterward.  Amp was pretty good until they changed the flavors and it doesn't work as well and tastes watery to me now.  The Army used to give us "Rip-It" in Iraq and those were pretty good, but I couldn't drink very many without having stomach pains.  I tried a 5 hour energy once and it tasted nasty and didn't really seem to have any effect on me.  I finally settled on Full Throttle.  The citrus flavored Full Throttle seems to wake me up, give me energy to be active and alert without being jittery, and I don't have a crash afterward, not to mention it tastes pretty good.

[FloatingFatMan]

TBH, you should probably avoid energy drinks and just make sure you get enough sleep and enough regular exercise!  Exercise builds energy!

[Rohdekill]

If it just uses caffeine, there WILL be a crash later, making the ad a lie.

No it doesn't make it a lie.  They claim it gives you a boost.  They make no claim what occurs after the boost wears off.  

[macoman]

No it doesn't make it a lie. They claim it gives you a boost. They make no claim what occurs after the boost wears off.

Exactly, I approve to ban all energy drinks. It is not about the ingredients, its about that it can also increase dangerously the rhythm of your heart and there is a chance of creating a stroke.

[FloatingFatMan]

No it doesn't make it a lie.  They claim it gives you a boost.  They make no claim what occurs after the boost wears off.  

 

 

Umm.. It's written on the BOTTLE!

 

"No crash later"

[Rohdekill]

Umm.. It's written on the BOTTLE!

 

"No crash later"

Maybe you should have initially stated that.  I, for one, have never read the bottle or taken it.