Family says popular energy drink played role in cheerleader's fatal heart condition
NBC News • • general
Key Points:
- The family of 17-year-old Texas cheerleader Larissa Nicole Rodriguez filed a wrongful death lawsuit against distributors of Alani Nu energy drinks, alleging her death was caused by an enlarged heart due to high caffeine intake.
- The Hidalgo County medical examiner ruled her cause of death as an enlarged heart from stress and excessive caffeine, with no other drugs or alcohol found in her system.
- The lawsuit claims Alani Nu’s product lacked adequate warnings about cardiac risks and targets young women and minors through social media marketing, promoting it as a wellness beverage.
- Alani Nu energy drinks contain 200 mg of caffeine per 12-ounce can, double the FDA's recommended caffeine limit for teenagers, and higher than many other popular energy drinks.
- The family hopes the lawsuit will lead to better industry warnings and protections to prevent similar tragedies, emphasizing that Rodriguez was a healthy, active teenager with no prior heart conditions.
