State opens investigation into Celsius over caffeine levels in Alani Nu energy drinks marketed to teens

AUSTIN, Texas (KBTX/Gray News) — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Thursday his office has opened an investigation into Celsius Holdings Inc., a Florida-based company that owns Alani Nutrition LLC, over how its energy drinks are marketed and represented to teens and children.

In a news release to KBTX, Paxton said the Office of the Attorney General will examine whether Celsius and Alani misled consumers about the safety of the products for younger people in violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

Alani Nu, a popular low-calorie energy drink, contains 200 milligrams of caffeine in a 12-ounce can — a level the attorney general’s office says medical professionals consider dangerous for children and adolescents.

Paxton’s office pointed to what it called youth-oriented branding, including colorful packaging and playful design elements, raising questions about whether the product is being marketed to an at-risk population. The release also noted that while Alani Nu cans typically list caffeine content, they may not include additional warnings related to age or potential heart-health risks.

Paxton also referenced a lawsuit filed by the family of a 17-year-old girl from Weslaco, Texas, who died and whose family alleges excessive caffeine consumption contributed to an enlarged heart. The lawsuit claims the product failed to provide adequate warnings.

Attorneys for Larissa Rodriguez’s family said that a coroner’s report found the teen died last October from an enlarged heart caused by stress and “a large amount of caffeine” from the Alani Nu energy drinks.

“Texas families deserve to know that the products marketed to their children are safe and not filled with dangerous levels of certain ingredients,” Paxton said in the release. He added that his office is investigating Celsius and Alani “to prevent more cases like this one.”

The distributor named in the Weslaco lawsuit has denied wrongdoing, saying it “denies each and every allegation” in the case. The lawsuit claims Rodriguez bought and drank one or more Alani Nu Energy Drinks distributed to H-E-B by Glazer’s, according to reports.

Rodriguez’s family is seeking $1 million in damages.

Neither the drink’s manufacturer, Alani Nu Energy — based in Louisville, Kentucky — nor its parent company, Celsius Holdings Inc. — headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida — is listed as a defendant, according to MySanAntonio.com.

Celsius Holdings Inc., which owns Alani Nu, said in a statement to NBC News that it is “saddened by this loss, and our thoughts are with the family. We take product safety seriously and believe consumers should have clear information about what they are drinking.”

In 2023, Canada issued a recall for several energy drinks, including Celsius and Alani Nu, citing concerns about caffeine content and labeling issues.