Latest posts
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Colombia Earthquake Halts Coffee Exports as Damage to Port and Highways Stokes Global Supply Fears
A natural disaster in one of the world’s most important coffee origins is this week’s dominant industry story. According to Bloomberg, Colombian coffee exports are largely paused after the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck western Colombia on August 10 disrupted operations at the Port of Buenaventura, the nation’s main coffee gateway, and triggered landslides and
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Daily Energy Drink Habits Come Under the Microscope as Health Publishers Examine What Routine Consumption Does
The energy drink conversation shifted this week from single servings to daily routines. According to Health.com on August 12, a new examination of what happens to the body when people drink energy drinks every day walks through the physiological effects of routine consumption, including impacts on caffeine tolerance and sleep-wake cycles. The framing matters: rather
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FDA Proposes Mandatory GRAS Notification Rule With Direct Implications for Functional Beverage Ingredients
The most significant United States food ingredient regulation news in years landed this week. According to CNN, the Food and Drug Administration on Monday proposed a rule that would close the decades-old loophole in the Generally Recognized as Safe system, known as GRAS, by requiring manufacturers to notify the agency before adding new ingredients to
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Powdered Drink Sticks Emerge as the Energy Category’s Fastest-Moving Format for Portable, Multi-Benefit Caffeine
The format wars in functional caffeine have a new front-runner. Trend Hunter’s latest coverage, published August 11, highlights multi-benefit drink sticks as a defining product direction, noting that natural caffeine sources paired with jitter-free positioning are creating space for powdered formats that stack energy with additional functional benefits. The stick-pack wave now spans startups and
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Experts Warn Against High-Dose Energy Drinks in Extreme Heat as August Heatwaves Intensify
As heatwaves grip both sides of the Atlantic this week, health authorities are drawing a sharp line between moderate caffeine and high-dose energy drink consumption in extreme temperatures. According to a Daily Beirut report published August 10, an expert warned that energy drinks consumed in summer heat pose a direct cardiovascular risk, combining high caffeine
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School District Energy Drink Bans Spread to Kentucky and Central Texas as New Academic Year Begins
The back-to-school energy drink crackdown is widening into a multi-state movement. According to WKYT, Pineville Independent Schools in eastern Kentucky announced Monday that energy drinks will not be allowed on school property starting this school year, while KWTX reported that Central Texas school districts including Lampasas ISD have enacted their own campus-wide bans citing student
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Half-Caff Coffee Launches Moderate-Caffeine Ready-to-Drink Line as Lower-Dose Formats Multiply
The moderated-caffeine movement gained another dedicated brand this week. According to BevNET, Half-Caff Coffee, a Minnesota-based ready-to-drink coffee company focused on moderate caffeine and clean ingredients, announced the launch of its debut lineup of three canned coffees: Lightly Sweetened Cold Brew, Vanilla Latte, and Mocha Latte. Each 11-ounce can contains 50 mg of naturally occurring
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McDonald’s Enters the Energy Drink Category With Nationwide Red Bull Dragonberry Energizer Launch
The biggest distribution story in caffeine this week belongs to the world’s largest restaurant chain. McDonald’s is adding Red Bull to its U.S. menu for the first time with the Red Bull Dragonberry Energizer, marking the fast-food giant’s first entry into the energy drink category. According to ABC News and Good Morning America coverage published
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Cuban Health Authorities Issue Public Warnings Over Energy Drink Popular With Teenagers
International regulatory attention on caffeinated beverages expanded again this weekend. According to CiberCuba and CubaHeadlines reporting on August 9, health authorities in Cuba’s Holguín province have issued a formal public warning about Shaka, an energy drink gaining rapid popularity among Cuban teenagers and young adults. The Provincial Health Directorate said the beverage combines caffeine, sugar,
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Better-for-You Energy Drinks Face Scrutiny as Coverage Questions Whether the Hype Matches the Label
The fast-growing wave of pastel-canned, wellness-positioned energy drinks received a reality check this weekend. On August 10, Audacy published an examination of whether trendy energy drinks are worth the hype, focusing on the brands that have redefined the category’s image among younger consumers. According to the report, Alani Nu’s biggest strength is its marketing and