Monster Energy, the second-best-selling energy drink in the U.S. behind Red Bull, has built a loyal following among consumers seeking a caffeine boost. In 2024 alone, the brand’s neon-green cans were a staple in convenience stores and gyms nationwide. However, a lawsuit filed by McKenzie Cain in September 2024 threatens to tarnish its image. Cain alleges she purchased a Monster Energy drink from a Grand Rapids, Michigan, bagel restaurant in April 2024 and discovered a dead mouse inside after consuming part of it. The case, initially filed in state court, was transferred to the Western District of Michigan federal court on July 14, 2025, according to court records. This isn’t the first time Monster has faced such claims— a similar lawsuit in 2011 accused the company of the same issue, which Monster also dismissed as “frivolous.”
The Allegations
According to the lawsuit, McKenzie Cain consumed part of a Monster Energy drink before noticing the can felt unusually heavy. “Out of curiosity, Cain opened the can further, and to her horror, found a dead mouse laying in the bottom of the can,” the lawsuit states. Cain claims the incident caused “emotional distress, trauma, and physical illness,” seeking $25,000 in damages. Her attorney, Zach Runyan, emphasized the severity of the alleged incident, stating, “It’s hard to imagine many things more disgusting than finding a dead mouse at the bottom of your energy drink. It is also dangerous. Mice, like all rodents, often carry diseases that can be extremely harmful.” Cain’s lawsuit accuses Monster Energy of negligence, strict liability for causing physical harm, and breach of implied warranty of merchantability, asserting that no beverage should reach consumers with such contamination.
