17-year-old Texas cheerleader Larissa Nicole Rodriguez died from an “enlarged heart.” Now, her family has filed a lawsuit claiming energy drinks contributed to her death.
Following the death of Larissa Nicole Rodriguez, of Weslaco, Texas, in October, her family filed a wrongful death lawsuit Wednesday against distributors Glazer’s Beer and Beverage and Glazer’s Beer and Beverage of Texas, according to NBC News.
According to Benny Agosto Jr., the family’s attorney, medical records state that she died from “an enlarged heart due to stress and large amounts of caffeine.” Agosto said the energy drinks she frequently consumed “had inadequate warnings about the serious cardiac risks that this product brings.”
Consumed energy drinks every day
Rodriguez was allegedly consuming about one Alani energy drink per day.
“It was very common for her to get up in the morning, go to school and have an Alani or be in sports activities and have an Alani,” Agosto said, according to NBC News. “We have pictures and videos of her playing sports and her and her classmates, as well as other friends, drinking Alani or other energy drinks.”
The suit seeks more than $1 million. According to Agosto, Rodriguez had no prior history of heart-related issues. He said tests were done to check for drugs, but that “everything was negative, not one trace of alcohol or anything. The only thing she had in her system was caffeine.”
How much caffeine is in one Alani?
According to him, Rodriguez was “fooled.”
“This drink is not a wellness drink, it’s not a get-well drink… It’s causing problems to her heart, which ultimately took her life,” he said.
Celsius Inc., the company behind Alani Nu, reportedly said in a statement 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.”
The statement continued: “Alani Nu energy drinks disclose 200mg of caffeine on the can, and the label states the product is not recommended for children, people sensitive to caffeine, pregnant women, or women who are nursing.
“Our products comply with applicable federal labeling requirements, and our policy is not to market or sample to anyone under 18, consistent with those label warnings.”
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