Call button

Alcoholic Energy Drinks “Adulterated”

Here’s the next installment about caffeine/alcohol drinks. The New York Times (11/16, A14, Goodnough, Frosch) reported, “A year after it began reviewing whether energy drinks that combine alcohol and caffeine are safe or legal, the Food and Drug Administration is expected to take a stand on the drinks as soon as Wednesday, according to law … Read more

FDA Bans Alcoholic Energy Drinks

  You may have seen this story in yesterday’s Inquirer. The AP (11/18) reported that, the Food and Drug Administration issued warning letters Wednesday to four manufacturers of alcoholic energy drinks, saying the caffeine added to their beverages is an “unsafe food additive”. In other words, the combination of caffeine and alcohol in drinks is … Read more

Former FDA official urges agency to look into LASIK

  On its website, ABC News (9/22, Carollo) reported, “A former Food and Drug Administration official who helped get the vision correction surgery LASIK approved back in the 1990s but later spoke out against the procedure is taking his concerns directly to current regulators at the FDA.” Yesterday, “Morris Waxler, who is now an independent … Read more

FDA lacks adequate authority to ban dietary supplements

  USA Today (8/5) editorializes “the watchdog publication Consumer Reports,” in its latest issue, “spotlights a list of 12 widely used supplement ingredients linked to serious health risks, including cardiovascular, liver and kidney problems.” The sale of supplements, which is a “$27 billion” industry, is not illegal. The paper says “spokesmen for the self-described ‘responsible’ … Read more

FDA panel votes to keep Avandia on market with more restrictions

  ABC World News (7/14, story 5, 0:25, Sawyer) reported, “A surprise decision on Avandia [rosiglitazone]. Advisers to the Food and Drug Administration recommended keeping Avandia on the market,” although most “advisers did recommend stricter warning labels and the FDA will now decide which course to take.” The New York Times (7/15, A1, Harris) reports … Read more

Who Needs a Tan Anyway?

The FDA has agreed on increased restrictions on tanning bed use for people under 18 ABC World News (3/25, story 9, 1:20 Muir) reported, “Tonight, there is late word from federal safety officials who are poised to crack down on indoor tanning beds. Twenty-eight million Americans tan indoors every year, and now a panel of … Read more