Energy drinks: Scientific facts

Safety and efficacy assessments on energy drinks

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is the keystone of European Union risk assessment regarding food and feed safety. EFSA is an independent European agency funded by European Union budget that operates separately from the European Commission, European Parliament and EU Member States. EFSA receives requests for scientific assessments and also undertakes scientific work on its own initiative.

EFSA has issued several scientific opinions related to ingredients contained in energy drinks:

• Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to niacin and reduction of tiredness and fatigue, published 2010.
• Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to pantothenic acid and reduction of tiredness and fatigue, published in 2010.
• Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to vitamin B6 and reduction of tiredness and fatigue, published 2010.
• Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to vitamin B12 and reduction of tiredness and fatigue, published 2010.
• Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to pantothenic acid and mental performance, published in 2009.
• Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to caffeine, published 2011.
• Scientific Opinion on the safety-in-use of constituents of energy drinks, published 2009.
• Scientific Opinion on the safety of caffeine, published 2015.