TORONTO - Refreshments Canada, an industry group representing Canada's beverage makers, has responded sharply to a new report that recommends for energy drinks to be regulated like tobacco or alcohol, the Globe and Mail reports.

Published in the journal Pediatrics, the reports warns that energy drinks can be potentially dangerous for young people due to their high amounts of caffeine that could lead to heart palpitations, seizures, stroke, or even sudden death.

"[The new report] does nothing more than spread misinformation [about energy drinks]," Refreshments Canada said in a press release, arguing that energy drinks contain similar amounts of caffeine to a cup of coffee and that they aren't recommended for children.

However, medical experts maintain children are major consumers of energy drinks, which is why they should be regulated.

In Canada, energy drinks are considered a natural health product and come under the review of Health Canada. However, due to a backlog in the department, it has not been able to review many of the energy drinks that are sold today.