2013

Recently, there have been several reports citing illness, hospitalizations, and death after consumption of food and beverages containing high doses of caffeine. These reports have prompted the FDA to investigate multiple products with high amounts of caffeine that are currently being sold on the market. Some of the most notable reports include products such as 5-Hour Energy, Monster Energy Drink, and Wrigley Alert Energy Gum.

The FDA is closely monitoring these types of products and is investigating their safety. They are primarily concerned with the effects of these products on children. The manufacturers of this merchandise claim that they are marketed and labeled exclusively for adult use. However, critics of these products remain skeptical due to the fact that caffeine is added to items like candy, which is attractive to children.

The FDA seeks to limit the intake of unhealthy dosages of caffeine, especially with respect to children. The FDA believes that the dissemination of products composed of high amounts of caffeine create concerns because, “it will be increasingly easy to consume caffeine throughout the day, sometimes unwittingly, as companies add caffeine  to candies, nuts, snacks and other foods.” Although several hospital reports mention these caffeinated products, it is still unclear whether the adverse effects were triggered by the caffeine intake. FDA officials state that they would take action if they could link the deaths to consumption of the energy drinks, including forcing the companies to take the products off the market.

Some manufacturers of caffeinated products have already taken internal measures to mitigate the problems caused by their product. For instance, Wrigley […]

Proponents of food safety, such as The Center for Food Safety, are putting pressure on the FDA to implement the proposed regulations enacted under the Food Safety Modernization Act. Currently, there is an ongoing case between The Center for Food Safety and the FDA. The case has been presented to a California federal judge who is being urged to impose strict deadlines. The regulations that are being discussed are aimed at making the national food supply safer. Advocates for the Center for Food Safety argue that the FDA has missed deadlines set by Congress.

The multiple deadlines set by Congress originally expired on October 2011, January 2012, and July 2012. However, the FDA has not finalized the implementation of the provisions desired by food safety proponents of the 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act. These provisions would regulate farms, food imports, food transportation, and the analysis of human and pet foods. Implementing these provisions is an urgent issue; food borne illnesses kill approximately 3,000 Americans each year.

The FDA argues that an unrealistic timeline was placed on them to fulfill the goals of this act. The agency claims that completing this task will take longer than expected because they are understaffed. Arguably, this delay can be seen as one of the side effects of the recent sequestration. The agency has submitted a set of rules to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in order to enact the law. However, the OMB has not yet […]