Washington (CNN)--the U.S. food and Drug Administration said manufacturers of seven caffeinated drinks Wednesday that the beverage is an interesting "public health" and cannot remain on the market in its current form.
The move follows a year-long review by the FDA, which gave companies 15 days to reformulate their products or to address possible seizure pursuant to federal law, said Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, Deputy Commissioner of the Agency.Experts have said the caffeine beverages can be used to hide the consequences of alcohol, which do not know how drunk drivers.
"FDA does not find support for the claim that the addition of caffeine in these spirit drinks" generally recognized as safe, "which is the legal standard," Sharfstein told reporters. " On the other hand, there is evidence that the combination of caffeine and alcohol contained in these products pose a public health concern. "
One of the companies granted letters of formal notice was Phusion projects, Chicago, Illinois, which makes Four Loko--a drink nicknamed "Stop in a" by some users, the company announced Tuesday that fall caffeine and two other ingredients, Guarana and taurine, four Loko against "a difficult and politically charged regulatory environment."
Other companies are based in San Diego, California United Brands, which manufactures Joose and Max brands;Portland, Oregon charge drinks Corp., which sells Core High Gravity HG, Core High Gravity HG Orange and Lemon lime rich Core; and New Century Brewing of Boston, Massachusetts, which makes Moonshot.
Sharfstein called of Phusion decision to drop caffeine and two other ingredients "step forward" Wednesday in a statement, issued after the decision, the company stated that it was satisfied with the answer given by the FDA.
"As we saw yesterday, we have stopped the production and shipment of all products containing these ingredients," said the company."We will continue to work closely and collaboration with national and State regulators."
But new century beneficiary Rhonda Kallman said CNN was awkward by the FDA decision to include Moonshot on the list.
"I don't know what to say except really struck me about the outcome of the investigation, the FDA and I need more answers than I've gotten," says Kallman, who said that only full employee new century.
Kallman is described as a Moonshot beer vessels has approximately 4 per cent alcohol by weight, approximately two-thirds of caffeine than a cup of coffee and sold in only three cities--and still be identified with four Loko and Joose. "
"Those brands are neon green.They aren't beer, you're SAPs, with 200 g of sodium and artificially everything, "he said.
United Brands said Tuesday that it will examine any new FDA guidelines, but noted was fully "from a single episode of injury or other harm associated with the products." United nor charge drinks had responded to requests for comment following the announcement.
The FDA has no authority to ban products outright.But Sharfstein told the review still happens ' await us, and these letters to read. "
This will send a message to the industry about the importance of examining direct these spirits and how the FDA would respond, "he said.
The FDA has begun a review of November 2009, after complaints from staff in various countries. controversy exploded in October, when he was nine underage students obtain treatment at the University of Washington Home after drinking Four Loko, both on its own or mixed with other drinks, said the police.
Critics say drinks such as Bowery Loko mix equal to the amount of caffeine in three cups of coffee with alcoholic equivalent to three cans of beer and designed to appeal to younger consumers are accustomed to consuming high-caffeine energy drinks a 23.5-ounce can of four Loko contains either 6 or 12% alcohol by volume, depending on State regulations.
Phusion has over Four Loko popular beverages such as rum and Cola or Irish coffee mix also caffeine and alcohol but "we cannot see these types of events where people drinking irish coffees," Robert McKenna, Washington State Attorney General told reporters.
"What we see now is impressive and you will need to take swift action," McKenna said.
Washington and four other members--New York, Utah, Michigan and Oklahoma--already have taken steps to remove Four Loko and similar beverages from store shelves and Gil Kerlikowske, the White House involved czar, praised the FDA to move products said are "designed, branded and promoted to encourage binge drinking."
"By acting in a timely fashion in order to protect public health is critical and a vital component of Administration Obama effort aimed at reducing drug use and its consequences," he said.
Combining large amounts of caffeine and alcohol produces "a wide-awake, drunk," said Dr. Mary Claire O'Brien, Associate Professor of emergency medicine at Creedmoor University medical school in North Carolina; But since the effect of caffeine wears faster than alcohol, he said, which remain with "alcohol rather than would have been able to tolerate--and that can lead to blackouts."
"If you are going to drink caffeine, drink this responsibly. If you are going to drink alcohol, drink this responsibly," said O'Brien, who has studied extensively drinks. "But mixing them is dangerous, because maybe you don't know when you had too much to drink. "CNN'S Elizabeth Cohen, Saundra Young and Matt Smith contributed to this report.
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