New Trend Could Be Dangerous

Researchers at the Wake Forest School of Medicine have made a startling, though not surprising discovery: the mixture of alcohol and energy drinks may be dangerous.
In the last few years, drinks like the "Jager-bomb" and the "Red Bull-vodka" have become very popular with the college night-club scene. And for good reason.
To the average party-goer, it sounds like a dream come true ... the best of both worlds ... Drink more, drink longer, and be able to stay awake and mentally sharp all the while. Not to mention that these hybrid drinks taste like liquid candy for the most part.

Some companies have capitalized on this concept with the creation of pre-mixed alcoholic/energy beverages, such as Anheuser-Busch with its "Bud-Extra" drink.
Even though the idea of an alcoholic energy drink is relatively new and seemingly cutting-edge, the historical danger of mixing uppers and downers has never perished.
Some researchers have even said that the consumption of these drinks together could be compared to pressing the gas and brake pedals down simultaneously in a vehicle.
While the companies making energy drinks boast about the benefits of ingredients such as ginseng and taurine, many people may not realize that the "energy" in these drinks is mostly derived from caffeine, and lots of it.

By FDA mandate, foods and beverages are limited to 65 milligrams of caffeine per serving. However, since energy drinks are not currently regulated by the FDA, a typical energy drink can contain up to 300 milligrams of caffeine in a single serving.

This should be of particular interest to establishment owners and their management teams since the sale of alcohol alone has always carried an inherent minimum amount of liability.

So why possibly compound that liability?

To keep up with the times. To give the customers what they want. To stay competitive. Or maybe they are simply unaware of the dangers.

However, in an apparent precaution to such liability, some establishments have begun to serve customers both products, albeit separately, giving the patron the task of mixing the two liquids themselves. But does this really translate into any type of substantial legal defense in the event of a lawsuit?

"Having well-trained, certified employees is really the best thing that an establishment can do to protect themselves, their employees, and most importantly, their customers," says Joy Sisson, Business Unit Manager for Learn2Serve.com. "And that’s where Learn2Serve comes in."

US Department of Health and Human Services Announces the Food Protection Plan

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced a comprehensive plan to strengthen food safety initiatives both domestically and abroad. The Food Protection Plan will use a collaborated approach of both science and risk management to meet the growing demands of the American public for safer food standards. Click here to read the full article.

“America's food supply is among the safest in the world, and we enjoy unprecedented choice and convenience in filling the cupboard. Yet, we face new challenges to meet both the changing demands of a global economy and consumers' expectations," HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said. "This Food Protection Plan will implement a strategy of prevention, intervention and response to build safety into every step of the food supply chain."

The Plan is made up of three core principals: PREVENTION, INTERVENTION and RESPONSE. As a part of PREVENTION efforts, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plans to work with industry leaders on both the local, state and federal level, to minimize vulnerabilities and strengthen product safety. Through INTERVENTION approaches, the plan will focus on inspections and samplings at the manufacturer and processer level both domestic and abroad. The REPSONSE effort’s key focus is to better reaction and communication to food safety threats and emergencies.

With over $2 Trillion in imported foods expected this year and with that number tripling by 2015, the need for action cannot be overestimated. The American public is no longer a stranger to contaminated foods and is no longer silent regarding this issue as well.

FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach, M.D., presented the Food Protection Plan at a press conference in Washington, D.C. and stated, "FDA must keep pace with this transformation so that the safety of the nation's food supply remains second to none. The Food Protection Plan calls for effective action before an outbreak occurs."

For a copy of The Food Protection Plan, click here.

How Political Is Food Safety?

A recent article stated that 98% of Americans do not trust the federal government to enforce laws that protect Americans from dangerous foods. With Decision 2008 around the corner, a question arises: “How will food safety regulation affect Americans political decisions?”

With over 76,000,000 food-borne illnesses reported last year alone, the American public is slowly losing faith in government agencies that regulate both imported and domestic food. And rightfully so. While new standards have been put in place in states such as California, there is no one to actually enforce or inspect our nation’s produce.

Rosa DeLauro, a Democrat from Connecticut, stated yesterday that this issue is “something for us to be very, very concerned about.” The American public needs to put pressure on their representatives to fight the issue full speed in 2008. If we do not demand proper food safety inspections and hold government agencies responsible for enforcement of new standards, we are guilty of indifference.

“Food safety has always been important and the recent headlines only support what has been the case for years,” states Joy Sisson of www.learn2serve.com. “Hopefully, the American public will realize how powerful their voices can be in creating new standards and safeguarding the food they eat everyday.”

How Safe Are Your Leafy Greens?

Despite last year’s deadly E coli outbreak, government regulators cannot say with certainty that the leafy greens finding themselves onto your dinner table are safe. Regulations governing California farms are still in the same state they were spinach with bacteria from a cattle ranch killed three people and infected over 200 more.

The Associated Press found that federal inspections of produce farms occurred once every 3.9 years. California, which produces three quarters of the nation’s leafy greens, has new inspections in place; however, the voluntary guidelines have not protected consumers from recent cases of salmonella.

Despite all the controversy and proposals that have found their way to Congress, potentially requiring inspections up to four times a year, there have been no changes in the way the government regulates food. With headlines slowly disappearing and the industry calling for self-regulation, there seems to be no urgency to protect what the public consumes on a daily basis.

Protect yourself, your business and your customer by having your staff trained in food safety training and food handler training. While you can’t guarantee that your leafy greens are safe, at least you can guarantee that the service and preparation was. It is on us all to do our part to protect the public and it is time for the government to take a more aggressive stance on food safety inspections and regulations.

Learn2Serve Now Offering ONLINE Utah EASY Off Premise Training!

Learn2Serve is happy to announce our approval for the Utah EASY Training Program. The Eliminate Alcohol Sales to Youth (E.A.S.Y.) Law (S.B. 58) was passed by the 2006 Legislature, and became effective July 1, 2006. The E.A.S.Y. Law limits youth access to alcohol in grocery and convenience stores, authorizes law enforcement to conduct random alcohol sales compliance checks, requires mandatory training for each store employee that sells beer or directly supervises the sale of beer and funds a statewide media and education campaign to alert youth, parents, and communities of the dangers of alcohol to the developing teen. To read the rule, click here.

The Learn2Serve E.A.S.Y Off Premise Program is approved by the state of Utah and is an authorized program as required by Senate Bill 58, Eliminate Alcohol Sales to Youth. The Learn2Serve E.A.S.Y. class is for sellers of beer for "off premise" consumption in stores such as convenience stores, grocery stores, super markets and others. The Learn2Serve E.A.S.Y. program is not for restaurant, bar and club servers, bartenders or any others that serve for "on premise consumption".

Texas Leads Nation in Drunken Driving Deaths

According to the US Department of Transportation, Texas leads the nation in drunken driving fatalities, with 1354 deaths in 2006, up from 34 in 2005. While 22 other states increased in fatalities as well, there were 28 states where the numbers fell. Runners up for the leading state behind Texas were Arizona and Kansas while DC and Puerto Rico were the lowest ranking states.

This news reiterates the dire need for responsible service of alcohol standards to be in place in all establishments where alcohol is served. “Without proper standards in place for training, Texas servers are blindly making important decisions. Even though training is not mandated for servers, servers should have a personal desire to ensure that they are protecting the customer not only in their establishment, but on the road as well,” states Joy Sisson, TABC trainer for Learn2Serve.com. “Most servers are not aware that they are liable for what happens once that customer leaves their bar. If the customer is involved in a fatal accident, the police will come back to the bartender and possibly file charges.”

Beyond the bartender’s responsibilities, mangers nationwide need to take a more active approach to ensuring that their servers are trained. Recently, Learn2Serve partnered with the Empire State Restaurant and Tavern Association to create a course specifically for managers entitled “The ABCs of New York’s ABC Laws.” The course gives owners an understanding of their duties and responsibilities under the New York State Alcohol Beverage Control Law. The program provides detailed guidance on the steps a licensee can take to ensure they operate in compliance with the law.

Learn2Serve encourages individuals who wish to drink to take the necessary steps to ensure that they have a safe ride home. Call a cab, carpool or simply drink responsibly in your own home so that you do not get behind the wheel after you have been drinking. It simply is not worth your life or someone else’s.