A Texas family is suing the distributor of a popular energy drink, claiming that the beverage was linked to the death of their daughter.
Larissa Rodriguez, a 17-year-old from Hidalgo County along the southern border, died after suffering a “fatal cardiac event,” according to a wrongful death lawsuit filed by her parents.
The teen bought at least one Alani Nu Energy Drink from an H-E-B store shortly before she passed away on October 20, 2025, according to court documents. The drink is endorsed by personal trainer and influencer Katy Hearn.
The document also says that Rodriguez’s cause of death was listed as cardiomyopathy caused by excessive caffeine consumption by the Hidalgo County Medical Examiner.
The Rodriguez family’s attorney, Benny Agosto Jr., told reporters on Wednesday that the teen began drinking Alani Nu’s products after seeing posts about their wellness benefits online.
“First, she got into it because of social media and other social interaction with young people,” he said. “At some point, she was enamored by it.”
The attorney added that it was “common” for Rodriguez to drink an Alani Nu product at school or before sports activities. At one point, she was drinking as many as one energy drink per day and even posted about the product herself.
Agosto also said that the teenager had no pre-existing heart conditions or heart-related problems.
When Rodriguez was tested for drugs, Agosto claimed that “everything was negative, not one trace of alcohol or anything. The only thing she had in her system was caffeine.”
According to the lawsuit, one 12-fluid-ounce can of an Alani Nu Energy Drink contains 200 milligrams of caffeine.
The document cites a recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics for no more than 100 milligrams of caffeine per day for children aged 12 to 17.
The lawsuit also suggests that the product contains an “undisclosed quantity of taurine,” and a “vaguely described ‘energy blend,’” that does not detail the individual amounts of ingredients comprising the blend.
On the Alani Nu website, the company states that it works hard to “produce wellness and fitness products you can trust.”
The wellness brand’s cans are stamped with warnings which state that the drinks are “not recommended for children, people sensitive to caffeine, pregnant women or women who are nursing.”
The lawsuit claims, though, that the brand’s marketing is “particularly deceptive because it positions the product as part of a healthy, active lifestyle while concealing the substantial cardiac and neurological risks associated with its concentrated caffeine and stimulant ingredients.”
Alani Nu, nor its owner, Celsius Holdings Inc., which acquired the company for $1.8 billion, is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit.
Hearn, who co-founded Alani Nu in 2018, is also not named as a defendant.
The family is suing distributors Glazer’s Beer and Beverage LLC and Glazer’s Beer and Beverage of Texas LLC.
Agosto said that the distributor was named because they “fail to give any warnings,” but did not rule out adding other defendants to the lawsuit. The family is seeking $1 million in damages.
According to her obituary, Rodriguez had won titles including Miss Texas Onion Fest in Weslaco and Junior Miss Weslaco. She was also hoping to attend the University of Texas at Austin in order to pursue a career in law.
“Larissa’s legacy of love, compassion, and determination will endure in the hearts of those she touched,” the obituary continues. “Her memory shall live on in the kindness she inspired, the goals she pursued, and the dreams she fostered.”
A spokesperson for Celsius Holdings Inc. said in a statement obtained by NBC News that the product’s caffeine content is openly disclosed and that the drink is also labeled with a warning for buyers.
“Our products comply with applicable federal labeling requirements, and our policy is not to market or sample to anyone under 18, consistent with those label warnings,” the statement continued.
The Independent has contacted Celsius Holdings Inc. and Glazer’s Beer and Beverage for comment.
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