Overview
- The Rodriguez family’s wrongful-death suit, filed Wednesday in Hidalgo County, names Glazer’s Beer and Beverage and its Texas unit and seeks more than $1 million in damages.
- The Hidalgo County medical examiner cited cardiomyopathy from excessive caffeine as the cause of 17-year-old Larissa Rodriguez’s death and toxicology reportedly found only caffeine.
- The complaint says each 12-ounce Alani Nu can contains 200 mg of caffeine, double the American Academy of Pediatrics’ daily limit for teens, and lacks a clear maximum daily intake warning.
- Attorneys allege pastel branding and influencer promotions encouraged teen use, while Celsius, which owns Alani Nu, says cans disclose 200 mg caffeine, carry a child warning, and meet federal rules.
- Lawyers say discovery could add more defendants, and the filing points to a 2023 Canadian safety warning over caffeine and labels as evidence of stricter oversight elsewhere.