FDA: 5 died after drinking Monster Energy

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WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it found five people died in the past three years after downing the popular energy drink Monster Energy.

The New York Times reported Monday the information does not prove a link between Monster Energy and the deaths or any health problems.

The newspaper said the mother of a 14-year-old Maryland girl who died in December after drinking large cans of Monster Energy two days in a row obtained the FDA records recently under the Freedom of Information Act.

The mother, Wendy Crossland, sued Monster Beverage, the Corona, Calif., company that produces Monster Energy, last week, the Times said.

Crossland accuses Monster of not alerting consumers about the risks of its drinks.

Company spokeswoman Judy Lin Sfetcu said last week the energy drink did not cause the girl's death from heart arrhythmia and that its products are safe.

FDA spokeswoman Shelly Burgess told the Times that in addition to the five deaths possibly linked to Monster Energy, there was another report of a heart attack.

The FDA reports were unclear about whether the deaths involved other factors, such as alcohol or drugs.

Burgess said it is the responsibility of drink manufacturers to investigate accusations of death or injuries associated with them. She said while a causal link between the deaths and the drink had not been found, the FDA was still looking into the cases.