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Supply Side West 2009 Energy Shots and Beverages: Growth, Innovation, Safety and Regulation Legal and Regulatory Issues Affecting Energy Shots and Beverages. Anthony L. Young Kleinfeld, Kaplan & Becker LLP ayoung@kkblaw.com. ENERGY BEVERAGE WEBSITE. http://www.screamingenergy.com/
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Supply Side West 2009Energy Shots and Beverages: Growth, Innovation, Safety and Regulation Legal and Regulatory Issues Affecting Energy Shots and Beverages Anthony L. Young Kleinfeld, Kaplan & Becker LLP ayoung@kkblaw.com
ENERGY BEVERAGE WEBSITE • http://www.screamingenergy.com/ • More than you ever would want to know, but . . . • Products that stretch the imagination of even the most jaded marketeer
Food or Dietary Supplement • First Issue – What is it • Marketer picks the category - food or dietary supplement • Nutritional Facts for food • Supplement Facts for dietary supplements • Customers and retailers no longer make a distinction • 7-11 would know the difference?
Energy Shots and Beverages Focus on Particular Consumer Needs • Energy • Stimulation • Alertness • Focus • Attention • Stay awake • And more “energy”
Energy Shot Ingredients Besides SUGAR • Caffeine, guarana and other caffeine source ingredients • Taurine • L-carnitine • B vitamins • Ginseng • Amino acids
Taurine • Not technically an amino acid but referred to as one • Supports neurological development and helps regulate the level of water and mineral salts in the blood • Thought to have antioxidant properties • Some studies suggest taurine supplementation may improve athletic performance
B vitamins • Important in cell metabolism • Help convert food to energy • Well known for energy support
L-carnitine • Synthesized in the liver and kidneys from amino acids and stored in muscle • Helps the body turn fat into energy • May be difficult to formulate so that it survives processing
Ginseng and Ginkgo • Ginseng reported to increase the body’s resistance to stress (adaptogen) • Ginseng is traditionally used as a stimulant: thought to improve mental and physical performance • Ginkgo to enhance blood circulation • Ginkgo to enhance memory
Glucuronolactone • Carbohydrate • Produced by the metabolism of glucose in the liver • Structural component of most connective tissues
Milk Thistle Extract and Acai • Milk Thistle historically used to treat liver disease and to protect the liver against toxins • Acai has measured antioxidant properties (contains anthocyanins and flavonoids)
ENERGY and Shot Claims • Energy • Feel it in minutes • Energy for a specific period • Energy for a specific purpose • More energy • Claims are supported by energy related professional sports endorsements that reinforce ENERGY
ENERGY and Shot Claims • Some performance enhancment claims • Red Bull, the 800 lb Gorilla in the marketplace, appears to make some of the more aggressive and specific claims • All In is one to take in Vegas - it has an interesting poker tie-in, instead of the athlete ties of most energy beverages
RED BULL Claims • Increases performance • Increases concentration and reaction speed • Improves vigilance • Improves emotional status • Stimulates metabolism • Vitalizes body and mind • Developed for times of increased mental and physical exertion
Other Energy Drink Claims • twice the buzz of a regular energy drink • ideal for persons who need a boost but aren’t afforded the most timely restroom breaks • scientifically formulated to provide an incredible energy boost for those who lead active and exhausting lifestyles
ALL IN Claims • All In delivers the ideal premium energy drink to the fast moving world of poker. • All In is a premium product…without sugar, carbs, or excess calories. • All in uses herbs, vitamins and amino acids and provides a smooth, sustained sharpening of focus and pure energy every poker player needs.
Other Energy Shot Products • Dr. Chao - Herbal Lady Drink (PMS) • Dr. Chao - Herbal Adult Drink • Dr. Chao – Herbal 21 Drink • Dr. Chao – Herbal Stress Reliever Drink • Note for Blumenthal – no Herbal Guy drink • And no Herbal Lawyer Up drink either
Energy Shots and Beverages Labeled as Foods • Nutrition Facts Box is limited to nutrients – no place to display functional non-nutrients – so taurine and guarana cannot be included. • On the Information Panel, non nutrient ingredients must be included only in the ingredients declaration for the product.
FDA Regulations Limit Health and Nutrient Content Claims for Foods and Dietary Supplements • Nutrient content claim regulations limit claims about the presence of ingredients to FDA - recognized nutrients. • To tout the presence of ingredients, the actual amount per serving must be stated.
First Amendment and FDA • In 2002 FDA asked for comment on those FDA claim rules believed to infringe on truthful and not misleading commercial speech. • Nutrient content claim regulations were identified as First Amendment suspect – but this proceeding never got off the ground, and now never will.
Nutritive Value - Food • FDA defines nutritive value as value in sustaining human existence by such processes as promoting growth, replacing lost nutrients, or providing energy • Physiological effect that provides a benefit through growth or health improvement probably meets the definition
Claims for Foods More Restrictive than Dietary Supplements • Health Claims – F and DS • Qualified Health Claims – F and DS • Structure Function Claims for foods based on nutritive value effects or taste or aroma of the food – F • Structure Function Claims for dietary ingredients based on demonstrated effect on structure or function of the body – DS
Dietary Supplements in Conventional Food Form • May be in conventional food form but must be represented as supplement and not conventional food • May not be represented as a meal or meal replacement or snack • May not be linked to a meal or conventional food form • Labels, labeling and advertising must stay out of food arena
New Ingredients for Energy Shots • New ingredients or novel forms of old ingredients must meet regulatory requirements for foods or supplements • New or novel food ingredients must be GRAS or food additive approved • Dietary ingredients must be old ingredients or lawfully marketed new dietary ingredients
Ingredients In Energy Drinks • Surprised to see that there is little exotica in the ingredients • Marketeers here appear to be looking for marketing niches based on endorsements, affiliations and packaging
GRAS Substances for Food Energy Shots • § 402(a)(2)(C): adulterated if it contains an “unsafe” food additive • § 409: “unsafe” food additive is one not covered by an FDA regulation, OR • the substance is GRAS through common knowledge throughout the scientific community • Reasonable certainty that the substance is not harmful under the specific intended conditions of use – (reasonable certainty of no harm)
Conditions of Use • GRAS notifications to FDA must list the foods for which the ingredient is intended • 21 CFR Sec. 170.3 • Must describe and list proposed amounts for the food category • Many food ingredients are NOT GRAS for all uses
GRAS Self-Affirmation • Scientific Procedures • Generally available and accepted scientific data • Ordinarily published • Corroborated by unpublished data • Normally reviewed by expert panel • OR • Common use in food prior to 1958 • NO FDA REVIEW LEGALLY REQUIRED FOR EITHER CATEGORY
GRAS Self-Affirmation • GRAS self-affirmation is a predicate for the use of an ingredient in food • Panel of Experts review and conclusion is important to customers • If FDA finds the ingredient and questions its use, the GRAS Self-Affirmation package provides a defensive conversation piece
GRAS Self-Affirmation • Largest ingredient customers (Coca-Cola, Pepsi) may not accept GRAS self-affirmation for an ingredient • If FDA disagrees with the use of a self-affirmed ingredient in food they may advise customer that their products may be adulterated. • FDA may make products containing the ingredient subject to seizure or injunction
GRAS NOTIFICATION TO FDA • Since mid-1997 GRAS Notification may voluntarily be submitted to FDA • Proposed Rule 62 FR 18938 4/17/97 • If successful, results in a “No-Question” letter • Replaces the old GRAS-affirmation process • Replaces a regulatory process that was too long – required too much FDA buy-in
FDA GRAS NOTIFICATION WEBSITE • FDA provides guidance to those considering GRAS notification • FDA provides chronology of GRAS notifications and responses • FDA response letters provide good guidance on data requirements • FDA provides guidance on estimating total dietary intake of the substance
Successful GRAS Notifications • Pre-submission meeting with FDA with Expert Panel Report as meeting baseline • Listening carefully to what FDA says pre-submission • Some published data and information • Data and information package presents quality relevant data • GRAS notification is written by someone schooled in FDA data requirements and FDA lines of inquiry
Successful GRAS Notifications • Panel of Experts ARE “qualified by training and experience to evaluate the safety of the substance under the conditions of use” proposed • The proposed conditions of use are not controversial for the ingredient • Panel of Experts addresses all relevant and expected issues including any raised by FDA pre-submission
FDA Informal Responses • FDA GRAS Notification review staff is experienced and knowledgeable • Review staff is not restrained from asking questions to clarify the submission • Review staff will advise notifier if the notification is going to receive an unfavorable response
Old Dietary Ingredients • On the market prior to October 15, 1994 • Must be one of the defined dietary supplement ingredient catagories • Must not have been a new drug ingredient – ephedrine HCl example • And probably not on the market as a drug
New Dietary Ingredients • Developed since October 15, 1994 • NDI premarket notification required unless the ingredient is present in the food supply and is used in a form in which the food has not been chemically altered • If you claim it is new, different or never before available, you need to respect the NDI requirements
Basic Safety Premise • Reasonable expectation of safety when used or consumed as directed • Don’t test new product ingredients on the customer • How would you like to testify in court that “you thought it was safe” but had never sought to substantiate it. • Have a reasonable basis that ingredient combinations are safe.
New Sheriff in Town • With the changed Administration, expect more concern around safety of foods and dietary supplements • The National Nanny is back in residence, we will be told what is good for us • Expect some focus on large amounts of SUGAR and CAFFEINE in products.
Energy Shots are “Functional Foods” • Industry has said that no new regulatory definition or distinct regulatory approach is necessary for the evaluation of the safety of ingredients added to ``functional foods'‘. • More use of labeling and restrictions on use was suggested for GRAS review of functional ingredients.
Energy Drinks Under Scrutiny • 12 year old reports results of study conducted to see if energy drinks like “Monster” delivered as intended. Brendan D. O’Neil – future MD • Caffeinated “Monster” against decaffeinated Sprite • “Monster” as compared with soday had no significant effect on exercise performance.
Energy Drink Safety • These products are being sold to people who want a faster lifestyle, the issue of the safety of caffeine, as well as other ingredients will be raised about this category. • Similar to the sports supplement model, the marketing is to a population that makes itself vulnerable.
Caffeine • Medline Plus says: It is recommended that pregnant women consume less than 300 mg of caffeine a day. • Caffeine passes into breast milk in small amounts and may build up in the nursing baby. • FFDCA Section 201(n) material information for Moms – why NOT require added caffeine to be labeled?
Caffeine • Major marketers of caffeine containing beverages include the amount of caffeine on their product labels. • Some energy shot product contain caffeine amount labeling and a caution regarding use by pregnant women.
Additional Energy Drink Consideration • Took a boat tour of the Chicago River • First drink on the bar menu was Red Bull and Vodka • All foods should be compatible with all foods – so mixing into cocktails is no surprise • But formulators should take the liquor mixing into consideration
WHERE’S THE ACTION? • CALIF AG lawsuit against Kellogg's for Immunity Claim on cereals – no surgical mask for Tony the Tiger – Pvt lawsuits follow • Consumer class action against Danone and over $30 million (note $ not Euros) • Lawsuits over “natural” and the like • Success has benefits, and a price
FDA Functional Food HearingNovember 2006 • There was no support for a requirement that companies that market ingredients for addition to ``functional foods'' notify FDA prior to introducing the ingredients into interstate commerce.