16 Jun 2023

Illegal energy drink still for sale on Facebook Marketplace

From Nine To Noon, 9:32 am on 16 June 2023
Prime energy drinks

Photo: Screenshot / Facebook Marketplace

An energy drink that has nearly twice the legal limit of caffeine is banned in New Zealand, but is still for sale on Facebook marketplace. Prime energy drinks contain 597 milligrams of caffeine per litre, while the legal limit is 320 milligrams of caffeine per litre.

Some retailers were selling the drink until they were issued with warnings of prosecution and fines of up to $100,000 for selling the drink. Listings on Trade Me were also eventually pulled, but the drink is still for sale on Facebook Marketplace.

Public health experts are particularly worried about the risks of children consuming these drinks, which are heavily promoted by influencers on YouTube, like boxer Logan Paul and rapper KSI.

Kathryn speaks with Jenny Bishop, Food Safety acting deputy director-general at MPI and Dr Ali Hill from the Department of Human Nutrition at the University of Otago.