You know 5-Hour Energy?
You might have seen ads for it, some of which claim that this energy drink gives you a bigger boost of energy and focus than a cup of coffee.
Another one tells the story of a guy who – after downing a 5-Hour Energy – disproves the theory of relativity, finds bigfoot, swims the English Channel (twice), and masters origami while setting a hacky sack record…all in 5 hours.
Courts have determined that one of these claims is misleading enough that it violates marketing laws…this one, about the coffee.
The ridiculous BS about the super-productive guy is totally fine.
That's because, here in the US, companies are allowed to say things about their product that aren't true – in fact, the more blatantly false a claim is, the more likely it is to be legal.
Order in the court!
This is MinuteFood.
OK, don't get me wrong: misrepresenting a product IS against US law.
That's why, when the company that makes 5-Hour Energy got sued by the state of Washington, they had to present their evidence for the claim that 5-Hour Energy gives a bigger energy boost than a cup of coffee, which included literature reviews, controlled studies, and additional scientific research.
