Texas Teen's Death Linked To Caffeine In Alani Nu Energy Drink, Family Alleges In Lawsuit

The family of a 17-year-old Texas cheerleader has revenge a wrongful decease suit against a supplier of a celebrated power drink, saying nan teen died from an enlarged bosom caused by ingesting ample amounts of caffeine.

Larissa Nicole Rodriguez, a college-bound precocious schoolhouse student successful Welasco, Texas, died successful October. Benny Agosto Jr., her family’s attorney, said astatine a news convention Wednesday that nan Hidalgo County aesculapian examiner wished that her origin of decease “was an enlarged bosom owed to accent and ample amounts of caffeine.” Hidalgo County did not instantly respond to a petition for comment.

Agosto said Alani Nu power drinks, which Rodriguez drank often, “had inadequate warnings astir nan superior cardiac risks that this merchandise brings.” The suit, which was revenge Wednesday successful Hidalgo County District Court, includes nan allegation and seeks much than $1 cardinal successful damages. The family did not respond to a petition for comment.

Rodriguez had nary pre-existing bosom conditions aliases heart-related problems, Agosto said. He said that nan aesculapian examiner tested for myriad narcotics and that “everything was negative, not 1 trace of intoxicant aliases anything. The only point she had successful her strategy was caffeine.”

Agosto said that Rodriguez was “full of life, afloat of love, smart, world and pinch a agleam future” and that she was an progressive teen who played tennis and was a cheerleader.

“Her life was trim short,” he said astatine nan news conference, surrounded by her parents and different relatives.

Larissa Nicole Rodriguez holds a tin of Alani Nu, an power portion pinch 200 mg of caffeine.Salinas Funeral Home

The family is suing distributors Glazer’s Beer and Beverage and Glazer’s Beer and Beverage of Texas. The institution distributes beverages successful Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas, according to its website.

Glazer’s Beer and Beverage did not instantly respond to a petition for remark connected nan lawsuit.

Celsius Inc., which owns Alani Nu, said successful a connection that it is “saddened by this loss, and our thoughts are pinch nan family. We return merchandise information earnestly and judge consumers should person clear accusation astir what they are drinking.”

“Alani Nu power drinks disclose 200mg of caffeine connected nan can, and nan explanation states nan merchandise is not recommended for children, group delicate to caffeine, pregnant women, aliases women who are nursing,” nan connection said. “Our products comply pinch applicable national labeling requirements, and our argumentation is not to marketplace aliases sample to anyone nether 18, accordant pinch those explanation warnings.”

Celsius, which completed its acquisition of Alani Nu successful April 2025 for $1.8 billion, is not a suspect successful nan lawsuit.

Agosto said nan suit was revenge against nan beverage supplier because “they’re nan ones that person it, administer it and put it each complete nan place, and they besides neglect to springiness immoderate warnings.” He said successful an question and reply Thursday that arsenic find successful nan lawsuit continues, much defendants will beryllium added, which could see Celsius.

The Alani Nu power portion is 12 fluid ounces and contains 200 mg of caffeine, nan aforesaid arsenic a 12-ounce tin of Celsius. The total regular maximum magnitude of caffeine that nan Food and Drug Administration recommends for patient adults is 400 mg, and children and teenagers ages 12 to 17 should person little than 100 mg of caffeine per day, according to nan Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

Alani Nu’s drinks incorporate a acold higher attraction of caffeine than immoderate different celebrated power drinks connected nan market. By comparison, labels show an 8.4-ounce tin of Red Bull Energy Drink contains 80 mg of caffeine, and a 17-ounce tin of Monster contains 160 mg.

Agosto said Rodriguez started to portion Alani Nu because of posts connected societal media that advertised it pinch wellness and wellness benefits, arsenic good arsenic an power boost.

“First, she sewage into it because of societal media and different societal relationship pinch young people. At immoderate point, she was enamored by it,” he said. Eventually, she went connected to station astir nan merchandise conscionable arsenic influencers do.

Alani Nu, an power drink.Alani Nu / Amazon

In nan past year, she started to portion astatine slightest 1 Alani Nu a day, sometimes more, he said.

“It was very communal for her to get up successful nan morning, spell to schoolhouse and person an Alani aliases beryllium successful sports activities and person an Alani,” Agosto said. “We person pictures and videos of her playing sports and her and her classmates, arsenic good arsenic different friends, drinking Alani aliases different power drinks.”

The suit alleges that Alani Nu targets its trading to young women and minors done societal media and that it advertises nan portion arsenic a wellness and manner beverage, but it says nan portion lacks due warnings, including depletion limits and imaginable dangers.

Agosto said nan Alani Nu power portion was specified a portion of Rodriguez’s life that an invitation for nan school’s homecoming arena featured an image of nan product, saying, “Hope you person nan power to spell to homecoming pinch me.”

Rodriguez was “fooled that this portion is not a wellness drink, it’s not a get-well drink. ... It’s causing problems to her heart, which yet took her life,” Agosto said.

In 2023, nan authorities of Canada issued a callback for Alani Nu, citing noncompliances related to caffeine contented and labeling issues.

Agosto said nan family’s dream pinch nan suit is to forestall nan calamity from affecting immoderate different family.

“They mislaid their only daughter. She was 2 months from 18,” he said. “What yet they want is that this doesn’t hap to a azygous child. If they tin prevention 1 life, that’s what they want. If they tin alteration nan manufacture truthful that there’s amended protections and warnings for kids, that’s what they want.”