Lori Barranon is calling for a ban on the drinks she believes are responsible for her daughter Katie’s death
A mother has spoken of her anguish and surprise when her 28-year-old daughter who was ‘the epitome of health’ died of a heart attack – and she believes a popular drink is to blame.
Lori Barranon’s world was turned upside down in 2021 when her vibrant daughter, Katie Donnell, suffered a sudden heart attack while out with friends. At the time, Katie was in perfect health—energetic, fit, and without any known heart conditions. Katie was rushed to the hospital and placed on life support, where she fought for 10 days before her family faced the agonizing decision to take her off life support on August 9, 2021.
Now, Lori, from Florida, is speaking out about what she believes contributed to her daughter’s tragic death, urging others to be cautious of the hidden dangers in a common drink. Despite being passionate about fitness, Lori reveals that Katie had no prior health issues—making her sudden heart attack all the more shocking and devastating.
Lori Barranon believes that her daughter Katie’s excessive consumption of energy drinks and caffeinated products may have played a tragic role in her untimely death. Katie, who was an avid fitness enthusiast, would start her day with a pre-workout drink to energize her for work or her early morning cardio sessions at the gym. But Lori only realized the full extent of Katie’s consumption after her passing.
Her boyfriend revealed that Katie would buy a four-pack of energy drinks every two to three days, and friends recalled that she was rarely seen without one in hand. Lori even discovered multiple cans stashed in Katie’s car—at least three or four every time she cleaned it out.
Lori now feels compelled to raise awareness about the dangers of excessive energy drink consumption, urging that such products be banned. Experts have warned that energy drinks, when consumed in large amounts, can lead to serious cardiovascular issues, including high blood pressure, heart arrhythmias, and even heart attacks.
However, in Katie’s case, doctors did not definitively attribute her death to energy drinks, and while studies show a link between caffeine consumption and heart problems, experts emphasize that more research is needed to establish a clear cause-and-effect relationship. Despite this, Lori’s heartbreaking experience has led her to speak out and caution others about the hidden dangers in everyday products.
Lori Barranon’s grief over losing her daughter Katie at just 28 years old is compounded by the shocking realization of how energy drinks may have played a role in her death. Katie, the picture of health, was dedicated to fitness and maintained a clean, organic diet—yet her excessive consumption of energy drinks, which sometimes contained more than 500 mg of caffeine, may have contributed to her tragic end.
While both the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) agree that up to 400 mg of caffeine a day is considered safe, some energy drinks far exceed this amount, putting users at risk for caffeine toxicity. Despite doctors acknowledging the dangers of overconsumption, they didn’t officially attribute Katie’s death to her energy drink habit. However, Lori is certain that these drinks played a role in her daughter’s fatal heart attack.
Reflecting on the loss, Lori shared the profound heartache of seeing her vibrant daughter—who was so committed to her health—taken so suddenly. “At 28, you just don’t see people dropping dead of a heart attack,” she said. “She was the epitome of health other than [energy drinks].”
Lori now calls for action, urging parents to educate their children about the dangers of excessive caffeine and advocating for a ban on energy drinks. “I beg people to counsel your kids and watch what they’re doing,” she pleaded. “I think energy drinks should be banned.” Her heartfelt warning is a powerful reminder of the hidden risks of popular, widely-consumed products.
