Fed up with grandparent claiming Prime (energy drink) is good for my DS7

[fedupwithit2023]

Just that really!
My DS (aged 7) has a grandad (my dad) who seems to think Prime (energy drinks) are "good for him"... Claims that because some of the top professional footballers are advised to drink them by "professional dieticians and nutrition experts", then this makes them equally "good" for my 7 year old.
He contradicts me in my own house AND in front of my DS that I don't see any nutrition benefits to the drink, much less do I want my DS to rely on this for "vitamins" and "nutrients" when I'd rather just carry on providing him with a healthy diet (as I have done all his life).
I'm sick to death of repeating myself to his grandad and being belittled in from of my child with snipy comments like "so you think you know better than professional experts?".
Last time it happen, I told him straight up (in front of my DS) that I'M the parent and I'M the one who decides what's best for my child. To most people this is just a given, just so frustrated that he persists in trying to discredit and belittle me in front of my child. Not only on this, but on other stuff as well.
I allow him to have a little drink of Prime (whilst at his grandad's) as a special treat, but never a big amount, especially not a full bottle of it.
For context I'm a single parent, so it's not like I have a partner I can call on to back me up when having these tedious, exhausting conversations with his grandad. I find it mentally draining tbh.

I think you just have to limit contact then

He contradicts me in my own house

Stop having him in your house

I'd never see him again if I had my way but DS is very attached and close to him.

Personally I would stop contact with him. You cannot give energy drinks to such young kids. That's mad.

Is it the energy drink (in a can) or the rehydration drink (in a bottle)?

I couldnt get worked up about the bottled Prime as it's mainly water with coconut water and some vitamins and sweeteners. The cans have caffeine and shouldn't be given to children

The bottles of Prime aren't energy drinks and are caffeine free. The cans do contain caffeine

It doesn't matter. This isn't the kind of example you want setting for your son. The disappointment for him now of not seeing grandad is far easier then him growing up and being just like grandad

Yep. He’s out of order for undermining you.

If you really want to talk to him about it, ask him to show you written evidence that “experts” recommend a drink containing caffeine and sucralose for 7 year olds, who last time I looked aren’t adult professional footballers.

If he wants to blather on about footballers, he might like to enlighten himself. I follow a Premier League club and it’s fascinating reading about their training and fitness. As expected no expense is spared and they have armies of fitness experts and dietitians advising each individual. In training, they actually analyse their sweat and pee, and give them rehydration/mineral drinks balanced for the needs of each individual player. But I’m sure your father, who has read adverts, knows better.

If it is the cans then absolutely no way any kid should have it, it has more than double the caffeine than any of the other energy drinks. The bottles from as far as I can see, are just glorified flavoured water. Any sports stars who drink it, will be paid to do it, no real health benefit.

Also to everyone comparing cans and bottles, it does not matter. Of OP says she does not want her child to have them her father should respect that.

Can or bottle? They've done a deal with The Gooners, I wouldn't trust anything that Arsenal go near 😂 you'd have to drink a lot of bottles to get any nutrition other than filtered water or coconut powder. I can't imagine that any professional would recommend it unless they're being paid to do so.

No child needs the amount of caffeine as there is in prime.

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/warning-prime-energy-drinks-primary-school-child-stomach-pumped-b1080513.html

It's the bottles.

If its the bottles they are caffeine free

@fedupwithit2023 you have described them as energy drinks but if its the bottles of Prime they aren't energy drinks and are marketed as rehydration drinks. I wouldnt say they are good for you but they arent bad for you either.

They aren't great for anybody if you you take any notice of the research around UHP food

There's two very different versions of the viral Prime drink – and parents are urged to understand the difference for children
If you've got children or teens, you've probably heard a lot about the viral Prime drinks taking the UK by storm.
But if your children are nagging you to buy them, you might be wondering whether they're actually suitable for them to drink.

There are two kinds of Prime drink: Prime Hydration and Prime Energy.
Prime drink was introduced to the market in early 2022 by Logan Paul and KSI, and Congo Brands, the supplier and distributor. The drink is available in the UK and the US.
KSI is a popular English YouTubers, rapper and boxer. Logan Paul is an American social media star and wrestler.
The drinks come in a variety of different flavours,

According to the supplier the drink contains:
• 10% coconut water
• 2g sugar
• 25 calories
• 250mg BCAAs (for muscle enhancement)
• 830mg of electrolytes
• vitamins and antioxidants

Prime actually refers to the line of drinks – both versions, mentioned above. Only one qualifies as an energy drink. The legal definition of an energy drink in the UK is one that contains 150mg of caffeine per litre or more.

Is Prime safe for children to drink?
To answer that question we have to consider the 2 versions of Prime separately, primarily because of the differences between energy drinks and sports drinks. Energy drinks are specifically designed to help athletes and other active people hydrate before, during and after exercise. Their ingredients make them a LOT different from sports drinks.

Is Prime Hydration safe for kids?
The Prime Hydration drink is child-friendly and is classed as a sports drink, like Powerade or Gatorade. Sports drinks are designed to help with exercise and recovery. They are suitable for under 16s to consume.
This version of Prime is marketed as a ‘hydration drink’ and contains mostly water and coconut water with added vitamins and minerals. Its flavours include ice pop, blue raspberry, grape and lemon lime.

Prime Hydration is NOT an energy drink as it does not contain caffeine. It's low calorie with no added sugar.
Is Prime Energy safe for kids?
On the other hand, the fizzy Prime Energy contains caffeine and SHOULD NOT be consumed by children under the age of 18 as well as some other people. This is stated on the Prime website::_

PRIME Energy contains 140mg of caffeine, per 12 oz. can. PRIME Energy is not recommended for children under the age of 16, women who are pregnant or nursing or individuals who are sensitive to caffeine.'
A doctor has issued a warning to parents about children about the drink's high caffeine content, and a child reportedly had to get their stomach pumped after a cardiac eventt_ after drinking it.

Prime Energy contains a whopping 200mg of caffeine, compared to 86.4mg in a can of Monster Energy. The European Food Safety Authority recommends a daily caffeine intake of up to 3mg per kilogram of weightt_ for children ages 3 to 18. The daily safety recommendation for adults is 400mg.
The EFSA opinion confirms the safety of daily caffeine intakes of up to 3mg per kg of body weight for children and adolescents (3-18 years) and up to 400mg for adults. All energy drink labels disclose the exact caffeine content in the product.

Dr Deborah Lee, from Dr Fox Online Pharmacyy_, told The Mirror: 'I would not recommend children drink Prime Energy drinks or other energy drinks for children of any age.
'Children don't need energy drinks anyway – they have plenty of energy! If your child is lacking in energy, take them to see their GP, do not give them an energy drink.

'It encourages them to want sweet drinks, when plain water is the answer and helps them develop a sweet tooth which is not good for the future in terms of a healthy diet and controlling their weight.'

.......

Grandad is an idiot.

I'd go with blinding him with science to override him and his adverts!

Well the bottles won't do him any harm, but you're his Mum, so it's up to you.

I couldn't get worked up over the bottles of prime. They aren't energy drinks just sports drinks.

I wouldn't want my child to drink that either. Time to tell grandad either he listens to your wants regarding your child or you will be limiting contact. Which does he want to do?

And it doesn't matter if the drink is full of vitamins. If your 7yr old is consuming adult doses then it's going to harm him (unless they are all water soluble?). Besides, the new thinking is sweeteners (higher cancer risk) are more harmful than sugar (higher weight risk). Yay, grandad is risking grandson getting cancer...

A W.H.O. agency has classified aspartame, an artificial sweetener widely used in diet drinks and low-calorie foods, as possibly carcinogenic to humans.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/15/well/eat/sweeteners-weight-loss-who.html#:~:text=Continued%20consumption%20doesn't%20reduce,the%20W.H.O.%20said%20on%20Monday.

That doesn’t mean you have to keep in contact. If your son keeping contact with your father is detrimental to your own relationship with your son, and also detrimental to his health and well being, then reduce or stop contact. It’s ok to make difficult decisions for his own good.

Is this your dad or your ex's dad?

I'd tell him straight - again - that you're in charge and if he keeps on ignoring you, then he'll see his DGS a lot less.