Set your BS-meter to high for this news about Dwayne Johnson's new energy drink.
This has nothing to do with Dwayne Johnson and everything to do with how this drink is being marketed. In this post (and corresponding YouTube episode), Caffeine Scientist GreenEyedGuide dissects the Forbes announcement and pinpoints what consumers need to know before buying Dwayne Johnson’s new energy drink.
Reading Between the Lines with an Energy Drink Expert
In this YouTube episode, GreenEyedGuide highlights misleading parts of the announcement about Dwayne Johnson’s new energy drink.
Note, these problematic marketing tactics are not new. They affect many energy drink launches and even Phil Mickelson’s coffee launch, “Coffee for Wellness”.
When it comes to caffeine and energy drinks, GreenEyedGuide is “the guide” to what’s really being said in these stories. GreenEyedGuide leans on her years of researching energy drinks to help consumers read between the lines and make more informed decisions.
Show Notes and Additional Graphics
MYTH #1: Dwayne Johnson's new energy drink Zoa will be "the first clean and healthy product in the energy drink aisle".
The “clean and healthy energy drink” is not a myth, nor is it anything new. These products already exist but you don’t see them because they’re not as successful.
Over 90% of the US drinks caffeine on a daily basis. Only 10% of those caffeine drinkers choose energy drinks.
Most people who want something “clean and healthy” do not want anything that could be considered an “energy drink.”
Which means less than 10% of caffeine drinkers want an energy drink that’s clean and healthy. But these healthy energy drinks DO exisit:
Myth #2: Dwayne Johnson's new energy drink Zoa will have no preservatives, nor additives.
Unless you pull a product out of the ground and put it right into a box, it’s going to have other ingredients added to it.
That’s what the FDA considers an “additive” – basically anything you add to the starting product.
Caffeine is an additive. Salt is an additive. B-vitamins are additives.
So let’s stop trying to scare people that all additives are evil/deadly.
On that same note, SALT is a preservative. So is citric acid. It’s one thing to lean into the “clean and healthy” marketing message, but saying there are ZERO preservatives is taking too many liberties with the science.
Preservatives are important. They help our food and drinks stay fresh while moving from manufacturer to the warehouse to the store to the consumer.
Preservatives are so important that the word “SALARY” comes from the value of salt before the days of refrigeration.
Will it be worth the cost? Three more things you need to know about Dwayne Johnson's new energy drink.
Research behind turmeric is sketchy
"Recently, many studies have come into question, as a prominent scientist who studied curcumin—specifically its effects on cancer—was found to be falsifying his results. He published his research in more than 500 peer-reviewed academic journals. His work was cited more than 1,000 times in other academic research,..."
See Food Insight – “Turmeric: The Ancient Cure-All or Just a Flavorful Spice?”
Aminos Acids are not the same as protein
Having isolated amino acids is not the same as having protein, especially after a workout. Moreover, most drinks don't have a large enough dose to do any good.
See “Science Behind Noo Fuzion” for more details on real vs actual benefits and effective dosage of Essential AAs.
BOTTOM LINE
The bottom line it is WONDERFUL news that there will be another alternative to the stereotypical energy drink. But if consumers are considering Dwayne Johnson’s new energy drink, they should know the truth behind some of the marketing claims and hype.
References
- Forbes article
- HHS clarifies FDA’s confusing definition of “Food Additive”
- What are Natural Preservatives – PublicGoods.com
Related Reading: Your Body On Energy Drinks – All The Ways This Infographic is WRONG