Monster Beverage Corp. is facing a wrongful death lawsuit that could cast a shadow over the drink company’s reputation, as well as the entire energy drink industry. In October 2012 the company was sued after a 14 year old girl, Anais Fournier, fell into cardiac arrest after drinking two 24-ounce Monster Energy Drinks.

A medical report showed that Fournier’s death was due to cardiac arrhythmia caused by caffeine toxicity that prevented her heart from properly pumping blood. Although, Fournier also had a heart disorder which may have contributed to the circumstances surrounding her death.

Monster has responded to these allegations saying that its drinks were not responsible for Anais Fournier’s death. The company further stated that it is not aware of any deaths related to the drink. However, since the lawsuit was filed the Food and Drug Administration has released information that Monster Energy Drinks may have been related to five other deaths in 2009. Since 2004 the drink has been associated with at least 18 other reports of hospitalization due to adverse side effects.

The dangers of Caffeine for young people are well documented. Caffeine has been associated with harmful effects on children’s neurologic and cardiac systems and can cause nervousness, headaches, difficulty sleeping, dehydration, vomiting, and worse. In 2011 the American Academy of Pediatrics said that energy drinks are never appropriate for teens or children.

Although the number of adverse side effects from other drink brands were not released in information released by the FDA, it is not likely that the contents of most other energy drinks on the market are much more or less safe for children than Monster drinks.

For more information on the lawsuit visit here.