French Content Creators Launch New Energy Drink Ciao Energy
In early June 2026, three prominent French video creators launched a new energy drink called Ciao Energy, featuring reduced sugar content, caffeine derived from green coffee and guarana, and no taurine or artificial coloring. The product launch has reignited public debate regarding health marketing tactics applied to stimulant beverages, according to a report by Futura-sciences.
Dietitians and nutritionists emphasize that marketing terms such as “natural” do not alter the fundamental composition or physiological risks of an energy drink. The caffeine extracted from green coffee or guarana shares the exact same molecular structure as synthetic caffeine, meaning the human body processes both forms identically. While guarana contains tannins that some proponents suggest might slow caffeine diffusion in the body, such delayed release lacks robust clinical support in humans. Furthermore, slower absorption does not mitigate the risks of chemical dependence, anxiety, or elevated heart rates associated with high doses.
Caffeine Levels and Health Authority Guidelines
Reduced sugar content offers undeniable benefits, including lower caloric intake, minimal impact on blood glucose levels, and a reduced risk of dental decay. However, nutrition experts point out that the primary health concern surrounding energy drinks remains their total caffeine load. A standard 250-milliliter can of an energy drink typically delivers as much caffeine as two cups of espresso. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) established caffeine consumption thresholds in 2015, advising that up to 400 milligrams daily for healthy adults—and up to 200 milligrams in a single sitting—does not raise safety concerns. For children and adolescents, safety guidelines recommend a maximum limit of 3 milligrams per kilogram of body weight daily. En Europe, les boissons contenant plus de 150 milligrammes de caféine par litre doivent porter une mention indiquant leur teneur élevée en caféine ainsi qu’un avertissement déconseillant leur consommation aux enfants et aux femmes enceintes ou allaitantes.
Health Risks and Vulnerable Populations
France’s National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (Anses) actively discourages children, teenagers, pregnant women, and individuals with specific health conditions from consuming energy drinks. Clinical risks tied to excessive caffeine intake include heart palpitations, elevated blood pressure, tremors, nervousness, and sleep disturbances.
Medical professionals increasingly warn against consuming these beverages during intense physical exertion or mixing them with alcohol, a practice that frequently leads to dangerous overconsumption of alcohol. Individuals suffering from cardiovascular disorders, kidney disease, severe liver conditions, or anxiety-related panic attacks face heightened vulnerabilities. Health authorities advise anyone experiencing persistent heart palpitations, severe agitation, vomiting, chest pain, loss of consciousness, or convulsions after consuming caffeinated beverages to seek immediate medical evaluation.
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