Little bottles of 5-Hour Energy are available in just about every grocery store, convenience store and gas station, and the company has a large share of the caffeinated drink market that includes Red Bull and Monster Energy.
Concerns about Monster's possible connection with several deaths reported to the Food and Drug Administration have been in the news for weeks. On Thursday, the New York Times reported that the FDA has also received reports that may connect 13 deaths over the last four years to 5-Hour Energy.
Unlike Monster and Red Bull and other energy drinks, 5-Hour Energy is sold as a "shot" of caffeine, although the amount is not reported on the label. Consumer Reports tested the product and said there is about 215 milligrams of caffeine in each bottle, compared with about 100 to 150 for an 8-ounce cup of coffee.
Some people rely on energy drinks to stay alert on the job, and college students use them regularly, but others worry that large doses of caffeine could be dangerous.
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