Wrigley has halted production, sales and marketing of the company's new caffeinated gum, Alert Energy Caffeine Gum, the Food and Drug Administration announced Wednesday.
The decision follows meetings between Wrigley, a division of Mars Inc., and the FDA to discuss the government agency's concerns about the effect the gum has on children and adolescents.
"The FDA applauds Wrigley's decision and its recognition that we need to improve understanding and, as needed, strengthen the regulatory framework governing the appropriate levels and uses of caffeine in foods and beverages," said Michael Taylor, deputy commissioner for foods and veterinary medicine.
When the gum, which contains 40mg of caffeine in one piece, is chewed, caffeine is released into saliva. Some saliva is swallowed as if you were drinking coffee or a soda, and some is absorbed directly into the bloodstream through the cheeks and under the tongue.
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