FDA Reports 5-Hour Energy Drinks Cited in 12 Deaths

An energy drink produced by a Farmington Hills company has been cited in 12 deaths over the past four years, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 

The Detroit News reported late Wednesday that 5-Hour Energy, made by Living Essentials LLC, "has been associated with 92 adverse event reports in that time, including 32 hospitalizations", according to FDA spokesperson Shelly Burgess. The report did not include any specific information about how the drink was tied to those incidents.

According to the report, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Illinois), has cited rising emergency room visits tied to energy drinks in his efforts to impose caffeine limits on them.

Last week, Living Essentials company security called Farmington Hills Police after receiving an anonymous death threat against company owner Manoj Bhargava via e-mail. The company was able to trace the email back to an IP address in Longwood, FL. 

In March, , was named #960 on Forbes Magazine's list of the world's billionaires, thanks to the popular energy drink.