Foodwatch criticizes McDonald's: Eight-year-olds received energy drink during test purchase

The drink, which McDonald's has been selling in Austria since April according to its own statements, contains caffeine and taurine. According to Foodwatch, a standard cup contains around 93 milligrams of caffeine – more than a 250-milliliter can of Red Bull. For an average twelve-year-old, a single drink would cover almost 80 percent of the recommended daily maximum. The product's advertising specifically targets young people, for instance with slogans like "Main Character Energy."

Caffeine content above recommended daily dose

McDonald's stated upon inquiry that it informs guests about the product's elevated caffeine content regardless. On its own homepage, the company also points out that the drink is not recommended for children and for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Only after Foodwatch's criticism did the company acknowledge a need for improvement, according to the NGO.

Foodwatch campaigner Miriam Maurer said: "Dass ein achtjähriges Kind bei McDonald's problemlos einen Energydrink mit mehr Koffein als eine Dose Red Bull bekommt, ohne dass irgendjemand nachfragt, zeigt: Wenn es um die Gesundheit von Kindern geht, dürfen wir uns nicht auf Konzerne verlassen." She demanded: "Deshalb brauchen wir dringend eine gesetzliche Altersgrenze, die Kinder wirksam schützt."

Call for a legal age limit

The NGO pointed to regulations in other European countries. According to the information provided, a legal minimum age of 18 for the purchase of energy drinks already applies in Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, and Hungary, and a minimum age of 16 in Norway. In the United Kingdom, a law is currently being passed that will prohibit sales to children and adolescents under 16.

Foodwatch Austria announced that it would continue to advocate strongly for a national legal regulation. The discussion about protecting children from highly concentrated caffeinated beverages is thus also gaining momentum in Austria.

European models

The specific incident also casts a spotlight on a broader debate about the responsibility of fast-food chains when serving stimulant beverages to minors. Industry observers see the lack of age verification as a structural problem that cannot be solved through voluntary notices on product pages or in advertising.

McDonald's has so far not commented on the specific demand for a legal age limit. The company merely emphasized that it intends to further strengthen the notices on its homepage and at the point of sale.