1. The short story
Celsius by its nickname, this energy drink was launched in 2004. It is to a certain Steve Haley that we owe the concept, in which PepsiCo has invested massively in 2022, to become one of the priority shareholders. You should know that the rapper Flo Rida sued the company last year, for a story of a broken financial agreement which caused a lot of talk. Although he won his case, the deal (worth more than $80 million!) did not prevent the brand from continuing to gain popularity: today, Celsius is said to be the fastest growing energy drink fastest in the United States. Coming in five sparkling flavors (Peach Vibe, Sunset Vibe, Orange Flavor, Kiwi Guava Flavor, and Tropical Vibe), the 355ml cans just landed in grocery stores nationwide earlier this month.
2. Claims
On paper, Celsius is intended to be the brand of choice for “active living”. The brand, which plays the health card to the fullest, also says it stands out from other drinks of its kind with a “unique formula” and “healthier ingredients, such as ginger, guarana, green tea and seven essential vitamins”. . In addition, we can read on the brand’s website, Celsius drinks contain no sugar, aspartame, corn syrup, artificial flavors or gluten.
In terms of energy, Celsius cans sold today in Canada contain 140 mg of caffeine, which respects the maximum allowed (180 mg per serving) in the country. For comparison, a Red Bull (250 ml) contains 80 mg and a regular coffee, 95 mg. Note that the drink was, however, the subject of a recall last December in the country, due to non-compliant labeling (non-bilingual) and especially because the caffeine content then exceeded the maximum prescribed by the Canadian Agency food inspection. Asked to react, Celsius replied: “In fact, the Celsius product affected by Health Canada’s recall was not manufactured for the Canadian market and was not imported into the country through channels authorized by the company. »
3. Reality
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
Cans of Celsisus are on sale across Canada.
SO ? What to think? Are these drinks revolutionizing the genre, or not? “Nothing new” here, “big re-chewed”, although in “new packaging”, responds without hesitation Mélanie Olivier, nutritionist, president of Vivaï and expert in sports nutrition. Ingredients that are intended to be healthy, such as ginger, which is also found in several other drinks of this type, “are in minimal quantities, without any effect on health,” she says.
On the vitamin side, adds nutrition doctor Isabelle Huot, “we exceed the recommended intake: 250% for vitamin B12 and 118% for vitamin B2,” she illustrates. What interest ? “We give the impression that it’s better […] but do we need this? […] It’s a multivitamin overdosed with coffee,” she quips.
Above all, the two experts agree, although there is certainly no sugar or aspartame, Celsius drinks are sweetened with sucralose, one of the “worst” sweeteners for the microbiota. Sucralose can also “trick the brain and stimulate cravings for foods that provide real sugar,” underlines Isabelle Huot. “I don’t encourage that, especially not on a daily basis. » And it only takes one sip to confirm it, it actually tastes really sweet!
4. The youth issue
This is the main concern of Isabelle Huot, who strongly wishes that the sale of this type of drink is better regulated. “The packaging is attractive, the performance is praised, it exudes health, it’s attractive to young people! “, she laments. Certainly, the product is not recommended for children under 14 years of age, it is indicated in very small letters on the product. We also say to limit yourself to one drink per day. “But it worries me, because it tastes good. And we will tend to drink more of it. »
While children are not recommended to consume energy drinks, adolescents (13 years and older) should not exceed 2.5 mg of caffeine per kilogram of body weight. “Beyond that, it can cause palpitations, we have seen cases of cardiac arrhythmia, it can cause insomnia, cause anxiety, etc. » Several experts are also starting to speak out in this direction on TikTok. That’s not all, adds Isabelle Huot: “We give the impression that we need that to perform both at school and in a sporting activity! […] But the best drink is still water! »
5. What about adults, then?
That being said, when craving caffeine, before a workout or a long night at work, can a can here or there really harm an adult, vaccinated adult, doctor? Once again, our two interlocutors agree: when lacking energy, it is better to have a good old coffee, a tea, or why not a matcha.
“The danger with these drinks is that people don’t know whether they are reacting to the caffeine source or not. And if you combine it with other stimulants, coffee, tea, chocolate or another sports drink, it adds up! », warns Mélanie Olivier. Not to mention the well-known risks associated with mixing with alcohol or other substances.
And if you really have a craving for energy drinks, an option or rather a “lesser evil”, say Mmy Olivier and Huot, would undoubtedly be the Guru, or even Ooya Infusions, Quebecois and natural products, without bad sweeteners in their list of ingredients. “At the same time, sparkling drinks, dentists aren’t crazy about that either,” recalls the nutritionist. As someone else would say: do you really need it? »