DIETICIANS are ringing alarm bells over the increasing size of energy drink cans, with one offering more kilojoules than a roast dinner.
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Many of the well known brands, like V and Mother, are now available in half-litre cans. Rockstar Punched comes in 710-millilitre cans, even though its own warning label says you should consume no more than 500 millilitres of it in a single day.
A comparison of the cans shows that many have the equivalent caffeine of two to three cups of brewed coffee in them, but there is a huge difference in energy levels and that's where they can make a big difference to the waistline. Many have more sugar per 100 millilitres than Coca-Cola. Rockstar packs 2024 kilojoules, equivalent to more than three cans of Coke.
Nutritionist Rosemary Stanton said the body couldn't easily recognise the kilojoules in drinks, so it wouldn't make a dent in hunger.
''If you eat those kilojoules in bread, for instance, you will fill up and not eat other foods,'' she said. ''In Australia - where more than 60 per cent of the adult population is overweight - we really don't need any more energy coming from sources that don't fill you up.''
Dr Stanton said the caffeine content may add up to just a few cups of coffee, but her concern was over who was drinking it. ''We have known for a long time, as a society, that you don't let children drink coffee,'' she said.
The cans carry warnings advising against their use by children, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and those who were sensitive to caffeine. But research conducted by consumer group Choice found that the energy drinks had ''obvious appeal to kids''.
The consequences of caffeine on young children could include anxiety, disturbed sleep patterns and bed wetting.
Dr Stanton said some of the heavily promoted ingredients, like taurine, had no proven impact on alertness. ''A lot of these drinks have had taurine added but there is no known benefit for humans.''