DeLauro Praises Expected FDA Decision on Caffeinated Alchoholic Beverages

Washington, DC— Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3), Chairwoman of the FDA and Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, responded today to various reports stating the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will take action against caffeinated alcoholic beverages, ruling that caffeine is an unsafe additive to alcohol. These caffeinated alcoholic beverages had previously received Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status. A February 2010 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that FDA oversight of GRAS additives is inadequate, and made recommendations to the agency to improve the process to ensure that the public health is not compromised by GRAS regulations.

"I am pleased that the FDA reportedly has reached a decision on the dangers of caffeinated alcoholic beverages, and look forward to these products being removed from shelves around the country. For more than a year, the FDA has known of the concerns, hospitalizations, and deaths potentially associated with these drinks, and has weighed their safety and legality. Their actions are critical in protecting the American public, and especially the young adults these drinks are specifically marketed to.

"This case is one more example confirming GAO findings that FDA's oversight of the GRAS process is inadequate, and it is clear that the beverage industry cannot be relied upon to self-regulate the safety of products that are afforded GRAS status. A better process is clearly needed, and I strongly urge the FDA to improve their outdated and ineffective processes by implementing GAO's recommendations to ensure that the safety of companies' GRAS determinations are adequately monitored."