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VendingMarketWatch Top News Stories U Durbin calls for FDA probe of .S. Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin, D-Ill., sent a letter to FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg to investigate the caffeine content in energy drinks after learning about a 14-year-old girl from Maryland who died last December of a cardiac arrhythmia due to caffeine toxicity after drinking two 24-ounce Monster energy drinks in a 24-hour period. "Consuming large quantities of caffeine can have serious health con- sequences, including caffeine toxicity, stroke, anxiety, arrhythmia, and in some cases death," Durbin wrote. "Young people are especially susceptible to suffering adverse effects because energy drinks market to youth, their bodies are not accustomed to caffeine, and energy drinks con- tain high levels of caffeine and stimulating additives that may interact when used in combination. The glossy marketing tailored to youth has worked — 30 to 50 percent of adolescents report consuming energy drinks." A 2011 report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found that emergency room visits due to energy drink consumption increased 10-fold between 2005 and 2009. The report also found that of these emergency room visits, 45 percent were young people between the ages of 18 and 25, and 56 percent were due to energy drinks alone, and not energy drinks used with alcohol, drugs or medications. Thinkstock NRA releases new ServeSafe food safety book ▶ The National Restau- rant Association introduced the next generation of its ServSafe food safety manager program to meet the evolving needs of the foodservice industry. The new ServSafe manager book, 6th edition (formerly ServSafe Essentials) training materials include optimized, recali- brated and focused content created by the industry, for the industry. In addition, the ServSafe.com Website has 10 been redesigned to ease nav- igation by multiple audiences and refl ect the improvements in the 6th edition. The new ServSafe 6th edition contains the latest FDA food code updates and is based on a new job task analysis developed exclusively by foodservice operators across segments, academic bodies and regula- tory experts for real-life situ- ations. The edition focuses more intently on the preven- tative measures to keep food safe, leading to stronger food safety practices and a better trained workforce. Automatic Merchandiser VendingMarketWatch.com May 2012 New York vendors fi ght to raise vending sales tax exemption ▶ The New York State Automatic Vending Associa- tion continues to fi ght for tax fairness after the legislature failed to include a vending sales tax exemption increase from $.75 to $1.50. The association's lobbyist spoke to Assemblyman Bill Magee, the sponsor of the bill, who indicated that he will try to introduce the bill as a stand-alone bill in the new legislative session. energy drinks following death Dart Container Corp. will buy Solo Cup Co. ▶ Dart Container Corp., based in Mason, Mich., and Solo Cup Co., headquartered in Lake Forest, Ill., have signed a defi nitive agreement under which Dart Container will acquire Solo in a transac- tion valued at approximately $1 billion. Both companies are in the consumer and foodservice disposable packaging business. The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approval, is expected to close by the third quarter of this year. Massachusetts vendors petition machine fee hike ▶ The Massachusetts Vending Association has asked Massachusetts vending operators to sign a petition against a proposal to increase license fees for vending machines by 567 percent per machine. The association will also provide stickers to place on machines to urge custom- ers to oppose the increase. To sign the petition, go to: http://tinyurl.com/6tscvvh. Anpesil changes name to Thayer Distribution ▶ Anpesil Distribution Services, the Gibbstown, N.J.-based products distribu- tor, has changed its name to Thayer Distribution. The new name is taken from the com- pany's original location on Thayer Street in Philadelphia, Pa. The company has distri- bution centers in Gibbstown, N.J. and North Bergen, N.J.