Science and an evaluation of risk must inform any regulatory decision on powdered pure caffeine products and not Senators usurping the law, says the Natural Products Association’s Dr Daniel Fabricant.
A group of six Democratic senators have written to FDA commissioner Margaret Hamburg to urge the Agency to ban the sale and marketing of pure caffeine, a move that has received support from the industry.
PepsiCo brand Mountain Dew Kickstart tells us its two new flavor lines with higher juice content, coconut water and slightly less caffeine are targeted at a core ‘cross cultural millennial male’ consumer.
The European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) safety assessment on caffeine is not necessarily a green light for high caffeine consumption or for long-stalled health claims, according to industry commentators.
400mg of caffeine a day from all sources is not a safety concern, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has said in a long-awaited caffeine risk assessment.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has sent a petition to federal regulators seeking the ban of pure, powdered caffeine that is packaged and sold as a dietary supplement. Because of the product’s extreme potency, the possibility of accidental...
John Gagliardi let his experience as a college and professional lacrosse player guide his choices when it came to formulating his new energy beverage company. Called Titan Tea, the product line is based on black tea and D-ribose as primary ingredients.
Monster Energy admits that Red Bull’s successful Summer Edition launch with 7-Eleven meant it lost market share in Canada during Q3 2014, due its distribution partner’s ‘conflicting priorities’.
Ingredient supplier Compound Solutions has introduced a nature identical version of theacrine branded as TeaCrine. The ingredient offers benefits over caffeine, the mainstay of energy formulations, the company says.
The average convenience-store shopper spends just three minutes in the store, says Wells Fargo in a new report arguing that there are big growth opportunities for brands that can offer more products designed for immediate consumption, and better meet...
Zenith International includes cocktail flavors and cognitive enhancement within a list of 13 top trends it says have driven innovation in energy drinks on the basis of post-2012 product launches.
The growth of naturally healthy ready-to-drink (RTD) teas is predicted to be even stronger than that of energy drinks, according to figures released by Euromonitor this week.
Chicago-based Sensient Flavors has unveiled a new toolbox of natural flavor masking ingredients that can tackle bitterness associated with everything from stevia to caffeine by selectively targeting multiple taste receptors.
Reducing, enhancing or even eliminating caffeine content in coffee plants will be possible in the near future researchers are saying after completing the genomic map of the coffee plant Coffea canephora.
Big Interview: Drazil Kids Tea founder Christine Wheeler
The CEO of Drazil Kids Tea thinks this unusually named (lizard spelled backwards!), ready-to-drink tea brand has what it takes to become the industry leader in the growing tea for kids segment.
Potential buyers of Monster Energy including Coke and Anheuser-Busch may be ‘waiting on the sidelines’ until the firm’s potential liabilities on outstanding legal issues have been settled.
The flow of caffeinated foods hitting the US market “slowed to a trickle” after Wrigley pulled its Alert Energy gum in the wake of the FDA probe into caffeine, says Datamonitor. But it’s too early to write off this trend just yet, as consumers still crave...
The neuropsychologist behind cognitive health beverage Nawgan reckons his latest innovation 'ON powered refreshment’' - which combines caffeine and the fatigue-busting amino acid ornithine - has more mainstream appeal, bringing a fresh twist...
It’s not as well-known as yerba maté or guarana, yet, but another natural source of caffeine - the Amazonian leaf guayusa - is about to give them both a serious run for their money, predict the entrepreneurs behind Runa, who are on a mission to do for...
Caffeinated chocolate firm Awake Chocolate wants to up distribution among US college students and eventually bring the brand to 'forward-thinking' Europe.
Zenith International chairman Richard Hall has expressed skepticism over RTD coffee’s credentials as the ‘next big thing’, despite impressive growth since 2003.
Being a minnow in a pool of sharks is both scary and exhilarating, admit the entrepreneurs behind caffeinated fruit juice Frava. But “in the worst case scenario, it’ll make the subject of a good business school essay” (presumably about biting off more...
An all-natural fermentation process using mushrooms to remove bitter and acidic qualities from food ingredients created by food technology firm MycoTechnology Inc. claims it will revolutionize the coffee and chocolate markets.
SUCCESSFUL MORNING DRINK 'PLAYS AROUND THE ENERGY SPACE'
PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi says the firm will not buy brands in the lucrative energy drinks space and insists existing $150m+ offer Mountain Dew Kickstart is ‘right for the masses’.
In the early days, energy drinks offered a sugary, cough-syrup-tasting ‘punch in the mouth’ caffeine hit. Pretty soon, many other options emerged, but the category is still growing and evolving, creating new opportunities for brands that can find its...
US teens who consume energy drinks are more likely to smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol and use abuse drugs according to a new cross-sectional survey of 20,000+ high school students.
Experts who have reviewed a report from the Institute of Medicine on a meeting on the safety of caffeine in foods and beverages have concluded that based on the information in the report, it’s unlikely that FDA will make sweeping changes to the way in...
Caffeine consumption could have a positive effect on long-term memory, according to new research that suggested the compound can enhance memories for at least up to 24 hours after it is consumed.
Monster’s lawsuit seeking to block the San Francisco City litigation seeking to force it to reform its energy drinks, packaging and marketing practices has been thrown out by a Federal court.
Changes in marketing direction and a quiet year with lawsuits have seen three big players in the energy category bounce back in the eyes of consumers, but what does 2014 hold for the brands?
The lead researcher behind a high-profile paper showing energy drinks increase heart contraction rates has rejected claims by Monster Beverage Corp that the paper is ‘alarmist’ and stressed that “whether this increase in contractility is generally beneficial...
While the FDA has raised concerns about the recent proliferation of caffeine-containing products on the market, particularly those marketed at young people, new data suggests energy drinks and shots contribute “minimally” to total caffeine intakes, say...
Over 70% of Americans may be interested in reduced caffeine energy beverages that can offer the boost of caffeine but without the crash, according to a new survey conducted by Ipsos Research and commissioned by Chromadex.
The head of an Israeli firm behind a patented functional energy drink WakeUp insists that the ‘sky’s the limit’ if the award-winning drink is accepted by a specific market segment demanding alertness.
PepsiCo is exploring the potential of natural energy drinks containing Chinese herbal extracts that can alleviate fatigue and enhance sports performance without a big dose of caffeine, a patent application indicates.
Connecticut-based NutriScience Innovations, LLC is offering caffeine from tea leaves as a natural alternative for manufacturers with an energy source to accommodate the ever increasing demand for naturally derived products.
The issue of caffeine in foods has gained momentum recently, with calls by political leaders to FDA to address what they consider to be a growing public health risk. A commentary posted yesterday by Michael R. Taylor, FDA's deputy commissioner for...
A recent workshop sponsored by the Institute of Medicine on caffeine and its effect in consumer products such as energy drinks was helpful in making clear the points of view of the various stakeholders, according to observers. What was less clear was...
A Senate committee hearing on energy drinks marketing yesterday uncovered some skeletons in the advertising closets of three companies there as witnesses, suggesting some reexamination of practices is in order, one observer said.
The mother of a US teenager yesterday sued Monster Beverage Corporation alleging that his death in 2012 following a cardiac arrhythmia was a direct result of his drinking Monster Energy.
US firm Vitaball is gearing up to launch a caffeine-free energy tablet gum and gum ball that it claims gives it a distinct market position over its competitors.
Red Bull energy shots failed to improve the time in which experienced runners completed a 5km run versus a placebo, according to a new, but small-scale US/Australian study claiming to be the first to examine the efficacy of shots rather than energy drinks...
RESEARCHER aims to replicate ATTENTION-GRABBING RESULTS
A preliminary study in the US assessing the efficacy of 5-Hour Energy found that the energy shot did not ‘significantly improve’ brain activity and reaction times versus plain water with added caffeine.
Health Canada has issued a reminder for healthy adults to limit their caffeine intake to no more than 400 mg per day, with lower levels for children and pregnant women.
There is still a market for caffeine gums even after US Food and Drug Administration concerns prompted Wrigley to suspend production of its new Alert gum, according to private label gum maker Fertin Pharma.
Just days after Monster Beverage Co pre-emptively sued him, San Francisco city attorney Dennis Herrera has slapped the energy drinks giant with a lawsuit of his own accusing it of violating state law by marketing its products to kids.
The FDA says it will take a “fresh look” at the health effects of caffeine on kids following the launch of Alert Energy Caffeine Gum - a new caffeinated gum from Wrigley (Mars).
A caffeine-free version of Coke Zero will hit US stores from mid-July to give fans a “great-tasting option for later-in-the-day consumption”, says Coca-Cola.