French ban on Red Bull upheld by European Court
Health concerns over the Red Bull energy drink were fuelled yesterday after Europe's highest court upheld a French ban on the product.
The fizzy drink has been linked to several deaths and some experts have criticised its high levels of caffeine and other stimulants.
Red Bull is Britain's best-selling energy drink, with 213 million cans consumed last year. The popular adverts claiming that Red Bull 'gives you wings', have led to the brand being described as 'the Porsche of soft drinks'.
It contains caffeine, vitamins, and sugar which, the company claims, kick-starts the body's metabolism and keeps people alert. But France has refused to authorise its sale, along with other vitamin-fortified foods such as Danone yoghurt and Kellogg's cereals.
The European Commission (EC) challenged France's ban after manufacturers complained it was inhibiting imports.
In a ruling yesterday, the European Court of Justice upheld the main part of the EC challenge, ordering France to lift the ban unless it could prove the health risks. But the court said that the French government did have a right to ban Red Bull.
The judges said that a study by the French Scientific Committee on Human Nutrition found that Red Bull contained excessive caffeine. The committee also raised concerns about the drink's other ingredients - taurine, an amino acid the company claims can 'kick-start' the metabolism - and glucuronolactone, a carbohydrate.
The EC's Scientific Committee on Food conducted a study last year, and found that while caffeine levels in energy drinks were safe, more studies were needed to assess the dangers of taurine and glucuronolactone.
While other toxicology experts had concluded that the caffeine levels in Red Bull are safe, France had a right to ban the drink on the advice of its own experts, the court said.
One can of Red Bull contains 80mg of caffeine - equivalent to one cup of coffee. Three years ago, Ross Cooney, 18, from Ireland, died after he shared four cans of Red Bull and played in a basketball match.
An inquest into his death ruled that he died from Sudden Adult Death Syndrome.
Lyndel Costain, a dietician, said: 'The problem with caffeine is that the effects can vary, so it is difficult to say what is a safe level. High levels of caffeine can be dangerous for people with high blood pressure or anxiety disorders. Not much is known about taurine and glucuronolactone, but high levels of them could affect the body.'
Red Bull - which sells 1.6 billion cans worldwide - said yesterday that its product was safe.
A spokeswoman said: 'Red Bull will continue to be sold in 100 countries worldwide.' She added: 'No authority in the world has ever discovered or proven an unhealthy effect in or from Red Bull.' (well that makes me feel better.)
Only France, Denmark and Norway have banned the drink. Britain's Committee on Toxicity investigated Red Bull in 2001 and found that it was safe, but warned pregnant women against it because high caffeine intake has been linked to a risk of miscarriage.
An EU ruling which comes into force this year means that Red Bull and other energy drinks will have to carry 'high caffeine content' warnings. An urban myth that taurine was made from bull's semen has only added to its popularity.
Safety fears Ross Cooney, 18, was a healthy basketball player, but died in 2000 just hours after drinking Red Bull.
The student from Limerick, Ireland, died after sharing four cans of the drink with friends before a basketball game.
At his inquest, the coroner called officials from the Austrian-based company to give evidence about their product. They said that no adverse effects had been proven in connection with the drink.
The inquest jury later ruled that the teenager had died as a result of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome, but called for an inquiry into high-caffeine energy drinks.
eek.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
DUDE
I am SO taking the stairs from now on.
41 Hours in an elevator via the New Yorker
And yes, I am supposed to be writing something for school, which is why it's 1:47am and I'm posting links to the New Yorker on my blog... but seriously, the paper is coming along nicely actually... I just needed a time out from How tension between elected politicans and military leaders impacts our national defense.
(Sounds fascinating doesn't it?! I KNOW you want to read it when I'm done, don't lie.)
41 Hours in an elevator via the New Yorker
And yes, I am supposed to be writing something for school, which is why it's 1:47am and I'm posting links to the New Yorker on my blog... but seriously, the paper is coming along nicely actually... I just needed a time out from How tension between elected politicans and military leaders impacts our national defense.
(Sounds fascinating doesn't it?! I KNOW you want to read it when I'm done, don't lie.)
Thursday, April 24, 2008
In the Army now...
My Army buddies invited me to a PT
(Physical Training) test in the morning.
I don't think I am going to go.
I think I would embarrass myself.
I think I would probably die.
Please see below.
Army PT - if you want to ROCK
82 Sit ups (2 min)
50 Push ups (2 min)
2 Mile run 15:48
Army PT - if you want to NOT be kicked OUT of the Army
45 Sit ups (2 min)
17 Push ups (2 min)
2 Mile run 20:30
I wonder if they would kick me out of the Army?
I wonder if they would even let me IN the Army?
I wonder what the Air Force requirements are??
(Physical Training) test in the morning.
I don't think I am going to go.
I think I would embarrass myself.
I think I would probably die.
Please see below.
Army PT - if you want to ROCK
82 Sit ups (2 min)
50 Push ups (2 min)
2 Mile run 15:48
Army PT - if you want to NOT be kicked OUT of the Army
45 Sit ups (2 min)
17 Push ups (2 min)
2 Mile run 20:30
I wonder if they would kick me out of the Army?
I wonder if they would even let me IN the Army?
I wonder what the Air Force requirements are??
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
blood, sweat and tears.... essay excerpt
blah, blah, blah.... why building a wall isn't going to do JACK.
First, fences only slow people down. A fence will do little if no one is watching the fence. Once immigrants reach the melting point, the point where a person crossing the border ‘melts’ into society becoming untraceable, they are gone. There is very little a fence will do to prevent people from disappearing into the US. Once they have hit the melting point, it becomes considerably more difficult to prosecute and deport them. As we have seen by the construction in the San Diego section of the southwest border, many of the illegal crossings are now concentrated in parts of the border which are uninhabited. The more difficult the crossing the greater need for a coyote and the greater the humanitarian problem. A fence necessitates a road which facilitates movement away from the actual fence and into the country. By building a fence we are making it easier for coyotes to move immigrants into the country more quickly.
Second, fences actually keep people in the United States. There are an estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants in the United States today. Ironically, the number of illegal immigrants in the United States has mirrored the increase in the amount of money spent on border security. Both have grown in the last decade and since the Immigration Reform Control Act of 1986 (the last major blanket amnesty in the United States). While many immigrants really do want to come to America to make a better life, there are a great many who only want to come to the US to generate wealth. There are numerous immigrants searching only for seasonal labor. Because they must come to the US illegally, paying a coyote thousands of dollars to get in to this country, it is not economically feasible to make the trip to the US and back to their home country every season. Once they get to the US, they tend to stay and work sending money back to their families. In the first six months of 2007, more than $11.4 billion was sent in remittances back to Mexico. The better the fence the harder it is for those immigrants who want to return home to do so. Fences make the illegal immigrant population in the US grow – exacerbating discontent among the electorate.
Third, a fence along the southwest border does nothing to examine the root problem. As long as facilitating goods, people or products from one side of the border to the other is a profitable business, it will never be stopped. This theory was demonstrated in January of this year on the border between Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula and the Palestinian territory of Gaza. Israel imposed a blockage upon Gaza cutting off food, oil and other vital supplies. The recourse of the people behind the wall in Gaza was to create a series of smuggling tunnels into Egypt. When Egypt discovered the tunnels, they were destroyed leaving the Gazans again cut off. On January 23rd the Gazans destroyed a portion of the security wall and streamed into Egypt searching for supplies. As long as there is demand, there will be supply. This is true with food in Egypt, and it is true with labor and narcotics along the southwest border. Why are immigrants coming to America in the first place - because the economy in Mexico and other central and South American countries are weak. A wall will not solve this economic problem.
First, fences only slow people down. A fence will do little if no one is watching the fence. Once immigrants reach the melting point, the point where a person crossing the border ‘melts’ into society becoming untraceable, they are gone. There is very little a fence will do to prevent people from disappearing into the US. Once they have hit the melting point, it becomes considerably more difficult to prosecute and deport them. As we have seen by the construction in the San Diego section of the southwest border, many of the illegal crossings are now concentrated in parts of the border which are uninhabited. The more difficult the crossing the greater need for a coyote and the greater the humanitarian problem. A fence necessitates a road which facilitates movement away from the actual fence and into the country. By building a fence we are making it easier for coyotes to move immigrants into the country more quickly.
Second, fences actually keep people in the United States. There are an estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants in the United States today. Ironically, the number of illegal immigrants in the United States has mirrored the increase in the amount of money spent on border security. Both have grown in the last decade and since the Immigration Reform Control Act of 1986 (the last major blanket amnesty in the United States). While many immigrants really do want to come to America to make a better life, there are a great many who only want to come to the US to generate wealth. There are numerous immigrants searching only for seasonal labor. Because they must come to the US illegally, paying a coyote thousands of dollars to get in to this country, it is not economically feasible to make the trip to the US and back to their home country every season. Once they get to the US, they tend to stay and work sending money back to their families. In the first six months of 2007, more than $11.4 billion was sent in remittances back to Mexico. The better the fence the harder it is for those immigrants who want to return home to do so. Fences make the illegal immigrant population in the US grow – exacerbating discontent among the electorate.
Third, a fence along the southwest border does nothing to examine the root problem. As long as facilitating goods, people or products from one side of the border to the other is a profitable business, it will never be stopped. This theory was demonstrated in January of this year on the border between Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula and the Palestinian territory of Gaza. Israel imposed a blockage upon Gaza cutting off food, oil and other vital supplies. The recourse of the people behind the wall in Gaza was to create a series of smuggling tunnels into Egypt. When Egypt discovered the tunnels, they were destroyed leaving the Gazans again cut off. On January 23rd the Gazans destroyed a portion of the security wall and streamed into Egypt searching for supplies. As long as there is demand, there will be supply. This is true with food in Egypt, and it is true with labor and narcotics along the southwest border. Why are immigrants coming to America in the first place - because the economy in Mexico and other central and South American countries are weak. A wall will not solve this economic problem.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Sunday, April 20, 2008
If I didn't have to wear heels...
All you active, triathlon-minded women; welcome to Mecca.
Athleta.com
...and yes, I am supposed to be writing my essays right now... blah, blah, blah, maritime security collaboration between DHS and DoD, blah, blah blah...
Athleta.com
...and yes, I am supposed to be writing my essays right now... blah, blah, blah, maritime security collaboration between DHS and DoD, blah, blah blah...
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Higher Learning
First, life is precious. Never forget that.
If you are lucky enough to be embroiled in the minutia of life, consider yourself fortunate. I am so fortunate this evening.
I have to write a 10 page (single-space) paper about civil/military relations and the recourse those who wear a uniform have when their civilian superiors make decisions contrary to their advice. Said paper is due in 6 days. There is no way I can write a decent paper in 6 days. I could maybe do it, but I have to answer a handful of essays as well – to the tune of 1k words a pop.
But this is the thing. I generally always find some way to make it happen. This has set me up in a really bad pattern. I graduated HS, college including various and sundry term papers, essays and final literature assignments either at the last minute or with a negotiated extension. Thus, I have come to know that I can always make it work.
I’m sure at some point, it’s going to bite me in the a$$. We shall see if this is that time.
Anyone have any thoughts about the resignation of Admiral Fallon??????
If you are lucky enough to be embroiled in the minutia of life, consider yourself fortunate. I am so fortunate this evening.
I have to write a 10 page (single-space) paper about civil/military relations and the recourse those who wear a uniform have when their civilian superiors make decisions contrary to their advice. Said paper is due in 6 days. There is no way I can write a decent paper in 6 days. I could maybe do it, but I have to answer a handful of essays as well – to the tune of 1k words a pop.
But this is the thing. I generally always find some way to make it happen. This has set me up in a really bad pattern. I graduated HS, college including various and sundry term papers, essays and final literature assignments either at the last minute or with a negotiated extension. Thus, I have come to know that I can always make it work.
I’m sure at some point, it’s going to bite me in the a$$. We shall see if this is that time.
Anyone have any thoughts about the resignation of Admiral Fallon??????
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Friday, April 04, 2008
Word of the Day: Hooah
From everyone's favorite information source... Wikipedia.
"Hooah" is ubiquitous in the life of a U.S. Military soldier. In informal situations, a soldier can reply with "hooah" in place of "Yes, (military rank)" such as "Yes, Sergeant." This can be useful when the rank of the superior officer is unknown, similar to using simply "Yes, Sir/Ma'am" without the honorific. "Hooah" can also be used as a question, usually as a tag question, as in "We're going to win this war, hooah?" The most appropriate response to the question, "Hooah?" is the exclamation, "Hooah!"
(Other services use other versions of the word such as, Marines use "OohRah" in the same way and the Air Force uses HUA and Hu-Ahh.)
Other popular usages of hooah include:
Heard, Understood, and Acknowledged
What to say when at a loss for words
Good copy
Roger, solid copy, good, great, message received, understood, acknowledged
Glad to meet you, welcome
All right!
Thank you
Go to the next slide
You've taken the correct action
Amen!
A substitute for "that's cool". "That's hooah".
To describe a hardcore soldier. "He's hooah".
Uttered out loud at random and being continued by others. Like a pack of wolves howling, in order to boost morale.
To describe Army Rangers. "The hooah-hooahs".
Anything and everything except "no"
HOOAH!
"Hooah" is ubiquitous in the life of a U.S. Military soldier. In informal situations, a soldier can reply with "hooah" in place of "Yes, (military rank)" such as "Yes, Sergeant." This can be useful when the rank of the superior officer is unknown, similar to using simply "Yes, Sir/Ma'am" without the honorific. "Hooah" can also be used as a question, usually as a tag question, as in "We're going to win this war, hooah?" The most appropriate response to the question, "Hooah?" is the exclamation, "Hooah!"
(Other services use other versions of the word such as, Marines use "OohRah" in the same way and the Air Force uses HUA and Hu-Ahh.)
Other popular usages of hooah include:
Heard, Understood, and Acknowledged
What to say when at a loss for words
Good copy
Roger, solid copy, good, great, message received, understood, acknowledged
Glad to meet you, welcome
All right!
Thank you
Go to the next slide
You've taken the correct action
Amen!
A substitute for "that's cool". "That's hooah".
To describe a hardcore soldier. "He's hooah".
Uttered out loud at random and being continued by others. Like a pack of wolves howling, in order to boost morale.
To describe Army Rangers. "The hooah-hooahs".
Anything and everything except "no"
HOOAH!
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Reclaiming my life: Part II
Sunday I went to a Chocolate Tasting! It was fabulous.
A fellow city girl has an obsession with dark chocolate and invited a few friends over to taste. (Please see aforementioned city girl's aptly named blog Dark Chocolate Daily.)
Honestly, I've never been one for dark choc late. I now know why - because I hadn't ever had good dark chocolate. I could go into the details, but they are documented so well of DCD that I will defer.
But I think I could get into a little trouble with the Cocoa.
A fellow city girl has an obsession with dark chocolate and invited a few friends over to taste. (Please see aforementioned city girl's aptly named blog Dark Chocolate Daily.)
Honestly, I've never been one for dark choc late. I now know why - because I hadn't ever had good dark chocolate. I could go into the details, but they are documented so well of DCD that I will defer.
But I think I could get into a little trouble with the Cocoa.
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