UPDATE: FDA Ruling May Ban Sale of Alcoholic Energy Drinks
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
The battle over alcoholic energy drinks such as Four Loko moved to a higher court today, as the US Food and Drug Administration will now review whether to prohibit the sale of these drinks in the United States.
New York Senator Chuck Schumer announced yesterday that the FDA is expected to rule that caffeine is an unsafe food additive to alcoholic beverages. That ruling, according to Schumer, would effectively prohibit the sale of drinks like Four Loko, which has caused controversy here in Rhode Island, where it has been banned at some college campuses and prompted state legislators to propose a statewide ban on the drink. (To see video of local students reacting to the proposed RI ban, go here.)
"Let these rulings serve as a warning to anyone who tried to peddle dangerous and toxic brews to our children," Schumer said, calling the federal ruling "the nail in the coffin of these dangerous and toxic drinks.
"Parents should be able to rest a little easier knowing that soon their children won't have access to this deadly brew."
According to Food Safety News, Phusion Projects, makers of Four Loko, announced it will remove caffeine, guarana, and tuarine from its products nationwide, and will produce only a non-caffeinated version of Four Loko in the future.
The FDA's ruling is expected this week.
