Flight 188 followup

I posted a search area of Flight 188 if it really went missing a few days ago and wondered why exactly a passenger jet plane could lose radio contact with Air Traffic Control towers and be “lost” for so long without any kind of military response.

Well today the FAA announced that air traffic controllers are now on notice to only let 10 minutes go by before notifying the military. Flight 188 went on for 77 minutes without contact, so that’s a big improvement. But when these jets have a cruising speed of Mach 0.78 (0.78 mach = 593.74 mph) and a max speed of Mach 0.82 (0.82 mach = 624.19 mph), that’s still a LOT of ground they can cover in 10 minutes. Around 99 to 105 miles.

Recall : IDS Sports products Bromodrol, Dual Action Grow Tabs, Grow Tabs, Mass Tabs, and Ripped Tabs TR.

Steroids? In dietary supplements? And muscle building products? No! Say it isn’t so!

The FDA release says “IDS Sports announced today that it is conducting a voluntary nationwide recall of… Bromodrol, Dual Action Grow Tabs, Grow Tabs, Mass Tabs, and Ripped Tabs TR. The Food And Drug Administration (FDA) has notified IDS Sports that the recalled products contain the following undeclared substances, which FDA considers to be steroids: “Madol,” “Turinabol,” “Superdrol,” and/or “Androstenedione.””

The items specifically recalled are…

Brand Name Size UPC Lots
Bromodrol 1 box 6 75941 00250 7 All lots
Dual Action Grow Tabs 1 box 6 75941 00252 1 All lots
Grow Tabs 1 bottle 60 capsules 6 75941 00252 1 All lots
Mass Tabs 1 bottle 30 capsules 6 75941 00149 4 Purchased during or after 4/09
Mass Tabs 1 bottle 60 capsules 6 75941 00149 4 Purchased during or after 8/09
Ripped Tabs TR 1 box 6 75941 00162 3 Purchased during or after 12/08
Ripped Tabs TR 1 bottle 60 capsules 6 75941 00162 3 Purchased during or after 12/08

You know, with steroids causing “shrinkage of the testes and male infertility, masculinization of women, breast enlargement in males, short stature in children, a higher predilection to misuse other drugs and alcohol, adverse effects on blood lipid levels, and increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and death” as side effects, is all that really a good trade for 19 inch guns?

Lemme get back with you on that…

Here’s the link to the official FDA recall notice.

FDA Notification (AKA a pending recall) : Caffeinated Alcoholic Beverages

Caffeinated alcoholic beverages to me are something of an oxymoron. Like “jumbo shrimp”. “Seriously joking”. “Taped live”. And “working vacation”.

After today, though, I feel confident in predicting a sudden rush of caffeinated alcoholic beverage purchases. That’s because the FDA today “notified nearly 30 manufacturers of caffeinated alcoholic beverages that it intends to look into the safety and legality of their products.”

In other words, you’re in range now. Smile when you see the flash.

The logic for the FDA’s targeting of caffeinated alcoholic beverages is explained in the press release…

“Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, a substance added intentionally to food (such as caffeine in alcoholic beverages) is deemed “unsafe” and is unlawful unless its particular use has been approved by FDA regulation, the substance is subject to a prior sanction, or the substance is Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS).  FDA has not approved the use of caffeine in alcoholic beverages and thus such beverages can be lawfully marketed only if their use is subject to a prior sanction or is GRAS.  For a substance to be GRAS, there must be evidence of its safety at the levels used and a basis to conclude that this evidence is generally known and accepted by qualified experts.”

Soooo…. flavored alcoholic beverages might also be targeted under this interpretation, right? Or anything not specifically OKed by the FDA?

The press release also spells out that the FDA isn’t going to be messing around with the preliminaries this time out.

“The FDA requested that, within 30 days, the companies produce evidence of their rationale, with supporting data and information, for concluding that the use of caffeine in their product is GRAS or prior sanctioned.  FDA’s letter informed each company that if FDA determines that the use of caffeine in the firm’s alcoholic beverages is not GRAS or prior sanctioned, FDA will take appropriate action to ensure that the products are removed from the marketplace.”

And who got a copy of the FDA’s nastygram?

Charge Beverages Corporation
Products: Liquid Charge, Liquid Core, High Gravity Core

United Brands Company, Inc
Products: Joose, Max Vibe, Max Fury, Max Live, 3Sum

Phusion Projects LLC
Products: Four, Four Loko, Four Maxed

Point Blank Beverages Co.
Products: Torque

Hard Wired Brewing Company, LLC
Products: Hard Wired

Mix Master Beverage Co
Products: 24/7

Catalyst Beverage Company
Products: Catalyst

New Century Brewing Company
Products: Moonshot

Melanie Brewing Co
Products: Evil Eye

Thomas Creek Brewery, LLC
Products: Mobius Lager

Diageo North America, Inc
Products: Smirnoff Raw Tea Malt Beverage

Constellation Brands
Products: Wide Eye

The P.I.N.K. Spirits Company/Prohibition Beverage Inc
Products: P.I.N.K. Vodka, P.I.N.K. Tequila, P.I.N.K. Rum, P.I.N.K. Gin, P.I.N.K. White Whiskey, P.I.N.K. Sake

Delicious Brands Inc.
Products: Lotus Vodka

Sovereign Brands
Products: 3AM Vodka

Moet Hennessey/Millennium Import LLC
Products: Belevedere IX

Shotpak Vodka
Products: Gravity Vodka

Wingard USA (Importer)
Products: V2 Vodka with Caffeine, Everglo Vodka

LeVecke Corporation
Products: Vicious Vodka with Caffeine

Rocktail Drinks/Liquid Manufacturing LLC
Products: Slingshot Party Gel

Cold Spring Brewing Company/Atomic Brands
Products: A:M Carpe Noctern

808 Spirits Co.
Products: 808 Mango Beat

Gaamm Imports Inc.
Products: Booya Espresso Silver Tequila with Caffeine

Ithaca Beer Co.
Products: Ithaca Eleven Malt Beverage with Coffee

Gluek Brewing Company
Products: Gruv Malt Beverage with Guarana

MHW, Ltd and Niche Import Company
Products: Agwa De Bolivia

Rizer Spirits Inc
Products: XZO Vodka with Caffeine, Taurine, and Guarana


Buy ’em now if you want ’em.

Here’s the link to the FDA notification here.