Canada to recall Prime Energy drink due to ‘excessive’ caffeine levels

Prime Energy, an energy drink promoted by YouTube influencers Logan Paul and KSI, is seemingly being pulled from Canadian shelves due to its caffeine content.

UPDATE July 13: This article has since been updated to reflect new comments from Prime founders Logan Paul and KSI.

All Prime Energy drinks, not to be confused with Prime Hydration, that contain caffeine are seemingly being recalled by Health Canada.

However, it’s worth clarifying Prime’s representatives emphasize that Prime Energy hasn’t officially launched in Canada yet. They also explained that the drink slated for the Canadian market will contain 140 milligrams of caffeine, compliant with Canadian regulations.

In response to the recall notice, Paul took to social media and claimed that the only way Prime Energy was being sold in Canada was due to “illegal and unauthorized” imports.

“The crazy part about that is, we don’t even distribute Prime Energy in Canada!” Paul explained. “So, how could it be recalled? The answer is: Illegal or unauthorized imports of the beverage.”

“But of course, traditional media doesn’t care about that because they just want a headline. They want clicks. The level of misinformation currently being spread around Prime is actually insane.”

KSI, too, responded to the Canadian Prime Energy recall, tweeting: “We’ve never even released Prime Energy in Canada, lmao.”

Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency are now addressing reports of shops distributing the drink without approval.

Prime Energy is a favorite among the influencer duo’s young fan base but has drawn scrutiny of late from various health authorities due to its high caffeine content.

The drink’s rising popularity has also caught the attention of U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, who recently labeled Prime Energy as a “serious health concern.” Prime Energy contains 200 mg of caffeine per 12 oz can in the U.S.

Responding to those allegations, a Prime Hydration representative said its energy drink, which comes with a warning label that it is “not recommended for children under 18,” contains a comparable level of caffeine to other competitors.

For reference, a regular can of Monster Energy contains 160 mg of caffeine, and a standard Red Bull has 80 mg of caffeine.

This incident follows reports that emerged of a child in the U.K. experiencing a cardiac episode after consuming Prime Energy. The U.K. version of the drink contains 140mg of caffeine per 12oz serving, which is still above typical soft drink caffeine levels but under Canada’s permissible limit.

While the unofficial Prime Energy recall is underway, Health Canada recommends a daily caffeine intake of 2.5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight for those under 18.