The family of Texas beauty queen Larissa Rodriguez has sued popular energy company Alani Nu after she died from "excessive caffeine consumption". As reported by the New York Post, the family has claimed there is an "unreasonably dangerous" amount of caffeine in the drinks.
Larissa Rodriguez was a high school senior and co-captain of the varsity cheerleading squad. She was also a rising star in the teenage beauty queen scene. She tragically died after suffering a "fatal cardiac event" on October 20, 2025. This came after she drank "at least one" 12-ounce can of Alani Nu.
Alani Nu is a supplement company that markets itself as selling "pumped-up pick-me-ups", according to their website. A 12-ounce can of Alani Nu energy drink has 200 milligrams of caffeine. This is double the maximum daily intake recommended for minors.
But the back of the can only has a brief warning saying it is "not recommended for Children, People Sensitive to Caffeine, Pregnant Women or Women who are Nursing."
And, tragically, after Larissa Rodriguez consumed "at least one" of the beverages over a period of days, she passed away. The cause of death was found out to be cardiomyopathy. This is a serious heart disease, specifically affecting the muscles. It is caused by excessive caffeine consumption.
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The Lawsuit Says That Alani Nu Has Too Much Caffeine
The crux of the lawsuit from Rodriguez's family comes from both the lack of warnings present on the drinks and the "unreasonably dangerous" amount of caffeine present in the drink.
The family argued in the lawsuit that "The Alani Nu Energy Drink was designed and formulated such that it could cause cardiomyopathy" along with other serious health problems. The lawsuit argues that the drinks can also cause cardiac arrhythmia and cardiac arrest, among others. It also highlights how bad the drinks are specifically for children and teens.
The lawsuit has compared Rodriguez's death with similar lawsuits against Panera Bread. These lawsuits argued that the unlabeled caffeine content present in "Charged" drinks such as the "Charged Lemonade" caused several deaths.
The lawsuit was filed in the Hidalgo County District Court by Rodriguez's parents, Jennifer and Roberto. They seek damages in the wrongful death of their daughter.
