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NewsvineThis fall, many students were surprised to find caffeine pills at a Stanford dining location. Energy Zone, a new kiosk selling smoothies and energy bars in the Wilbur dining hall, also offers bottles of Met-Rx “Amped Up” caffeine pills. Each softgel contains 100 mg of caffeine, as much as a shot of espresso.
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“Really?” said Christine Feigal ‘08. “I don’t know how I feel about that.”
Katherine Brainard, M.S. ‘08 was more direct. “Caffeinating the stressed-out freshmen may not be the best idea,” she said.
Beyond caffeine pills, Energy Zone provides students with an alternative to the fruit smoothies found elsewhere on campus.
“I go here probably every other day,” said Paula Chidester ‘11, sipping a mango smoothie. “Some of their smoothies have half the calories of smoothies at Jamba Juice. Plus, there’s never a line.”
Energy Zone is owned by the Atlanta-based company Freshens. In an email to The Daily, area general manager Terry Navahandi explained that the Energy Zone at Wilbur is a franchise, like Peet’s Coffee and Subway in Tresidder.
Freshens has a partnership with Met-Rx Engineered Nutrition, a nutritional supplement company that provides “lifestyle boosters” — multicolored tablets that add extra nutrients to each smoothie. Students can choose from seven different boosts: Extreme Focus, Super Lean, Mega Energy E, Superfood, Sports Performance, Protein and Green tea.
A rolodex-like booklet on the counter gives nutritional information about all the boosters. Most boosters contain caffeine. Others contain the amino acid tyrosine; vitamins like niacin, B6 and B12; the element chromium; the organic acid taurine; or the plant-derived wheat grass, alfalfa and barley grass.
The informational booklet touts health benefits of the smoothies, but it also contains this asterisked warning: “These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.”
The warning stems from the 1994 Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act, which classifies nutritional supplements as food, not drugs. As long as manufacturers do not claim that their supplement treats any diseases, they are not required to demonstrate their product’s safety and effectiveness, and the FDA can only take action if a supplement is proven to be harmful.
Asked for comment, Navahandi stressed that the Met-Rx boosters are optional and the ingredients are clearly labeled.
“Stanford Dining has not heard of any concerns,” he wrote. “Boosters are a common offering of most nationally recognized smoothie retailers. Met-Rx is a well known nutritional supplement company that sells its products at GNC and other similar health food and supplement stores.”
And as for caffeine, the stimulant is no stranger to most Stanford students. Amy Xue ‘10 got a caffeinated energy booster in her strawberry-banana smoothie.
“I have a lot of work to do this afternoon,” she said.