Frito-Lay gets hyped up on snack food
By Emily Senger - Sunday, December 9, 2012 - 0 Comments
These Cracker Jacks will perk you up after the 7th inning stretch
Photo Illustration By Lauren Cattermole; Courtesy Mcor Technologies
Cracker Jack is jacking up its popcorn with a new caffeine-infused version of the confection. Parent company Frito-Lay says the candy, called Cracker Jack’D, will be marketed in the U.S. only to adults, but the Center for Science in the Public Interest is raising alarm over the product, which will contain approximately 70 mg of caffeine in a two-ounce package (roughly the amount found in half a cup of coffee). In a letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the health advocacy group says Cracker Jack’D is part of an alarming trend of adding caffeine to foods that are traditionally caffeine-free. Other caffeinated products released recently include a “water enhancer” from Kraft, jellybeans, waffles, syrup and even potato chips, as food manufacturers look to mimic the wild success of the energy drink sector, worth an estimated $8.9 billion in U.S. sales in 2011.
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The haunting spectre of energy drinks
By Julia Belluz - Tuesday, November 1, 2011 at 2:36 PM - 5 Comments
Last month, federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq unveiled reforms to the way the government regulates energy drinks, including a change in the classification of these caffeine-filled beverages from “natural health products” to “foods.” This means the feds can better control the ingredients the drinks contain and mandate that they carry labels listing their contents and related health warnings. Health Canada will also cap the concentration of caffeine per 250 ml at 100mg, require labels that indicate total caffeine content, and force manufacturers to include a warning that the drink shouldn’t be mixed with alcohol.But just exactly how bad are energy drinks for the body? Continue…
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Warning: ‘May be extremely calming’
By Kate Lunau - Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at 10:19 AM - 7 Comments
The opposite of Red Bull, these ‘anti-energy’ drinks claim to provide instant relaxation
At the end of a hectic day, people in need of some relaxation might curl up with a good book, listen to soft music, or maybe stretch out in a yoga class. For those in search of “extreme relaxation,” though, there is Drank, an “extreme relaxation beverage” on sale in the U.S. and about to come to Canada. Just as time-strapped individuals might chug coffee or Red Bull to stay alert, those seeking the opposite effect should take note: calm now comes in a can.
A fizzy, berry-and-lavender-flavoured concoction, Drank promises to “slow your roll.” To accomplish this, it contains a “calming blend” of melatonin, rosehips and valerian, supplements meant to fight anxiety and promote restfulness. (“Warning! This beverage may be extremely relaxing and calming,” the website cautions.) According to a food blogger at About.com, it really does the job: “Not long after I had my can, I noticed a pretty strong desire to go take a nap,” the reviewer writes. “It really did mellow me out.” The flavour of Drank got top marks, too, though it tasted surprisingly sweet, quite a lot like an energy drink.
Peter Bianchi, the Houston-based CEO of Innovative Beverage Group and Drank’s creator, compares indulging in a can to “putting your feet up in a recliner on a cold winter day.” Available in the U.S. for over a year, Drank’s popularity has exploded, Bianchi says, adding that it’s coming to Canada because “consumers have been screaming for it.” (They’re in need of some extreme relaxation, by the sounds of it.)
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Caffeine driving you crazy?
By Alex Shimo - Wednesday, January 14, 2009 at 12:10 PM - 4 Comments
Heavy coffee drinkers are more likely to suffer hallucinations
Drinking copious cups of coffee isn’t just bad for your health, it’s also more likely to drive you crazy, or at least crazy enough to hear voices. According to a study published in the academic journal “Personal and Individual Differences,” people who consumed the equivalent of more than seven cups of coffee per day (330 mg) were more likely to have hallucinations than those who consumed less than one cup (10 mg).
The study monitored 200 students from the University of Durham. It asked them about their caffeine intake from coffee, tea, energy drinks, chocolate and caffeine tablets. Of the top 10 per cent, who consumed more than 330 mg of caffeine per day, 41 per cent had experienced a hallucination at some point in their lives. Those who consumed less than 10 mg were much less likely to hallucinate—only 14 per cent had had such an experience. Continue…
