Josh Goldman | Student Life

Four Loko is noticeably absent from the shelves of Schnucks in Richmond Heights, MO. Prior to its recall by manufacturer Phusion Projects in response to an FDA review, Schnucks sold 14 cases of the popular malt liquor bevarage on Nov. 12.

Four Loko has noticeably disappeared from local shelves, after its manufacturer announced plans to remove caffeine from the alcoholic malt beverage in the wake of scrutiny from the Food and Drug Administration.

“People have been asking about it quite a bit,” said Sean Cole, the liquor clerk at the Schnucks on Clayton Road in Richmond Heights, MO.

Four Loko’s manufacturer, Phusion Projects, issued a recall on the drink late Tuesday evening in anticipation of the results of an FDA review.

On Wednesday afternoon, the FDA sent warning letters to four companies, including Phusion Projects, saying that caffeine is an “unsafe food additive” to malt beverages, and that further action—including product seizures—is possible under federal law. The FDA’s action effectively bans manufacturers from mixing caffeine and alcohol.

In its investigation, the FDA concluded that caffeine was not considered “generally recognized as safe,” the technical benchmark for safety in food additives. The study cited concerns from experts who say that the combination of alcohol and caffeine is associated with risky behaviors that may lead to dangerous situations.

Students stocked up before the recall as talk of a ban stirred up Congress. According to Cole, the store sold 14 cases in a single day last Friday.

At Washington University, some students said they feel the ban is appropriate, given recent events—including an incident at Central Washington University where nine students ended up in the hospital after drinking Four Loko.

“I think the combination can definitely be dangerous, especially when you see all of this stuff in the news about teenagers having heart attacks and things like that—I definitely have heard of serious side effects,” senior John Andreae said.

Others, however, said they feel the ban is inappropriate.

“I think it was a wrong call,” junior Corey Donahue said. “I think they should have just put a warning label on it….I think as long as people are aware that it’s unsafe, they shouldn’t restrict people’s access to it.”

Andreae added that the ban won’t keep students from mixing caffeine and alcohol.

“It’s not that big of a deal because you can still make a caffeinated alcoholic beverage of your own. You can have it regardless—people drink vodka and Red Bull for the same reason,” he said.

Phusion Products plans to reformulate Four Loko without caffeine, guarana and taurine.