Planned Launch Of Caffeinated Cracker Jacks Has Consumer Advocates Up In Arms

Consumer watchdog Center for Science in the Public Interest is vigorously objecting to the planned launch of new varieties of the venerable snack product Cracker Jacks that are laced with caffeine. Frito-Lay insists the new products, dubbed Cracker Jack’d, will not be marketed to children. CSPI is concerned that though the products will be marketed to adults – and packages will display warnings – caffeine content will make them appealing to kids. A CSPI spokesman told the FDA the new caffeinated products "may be just the beginning of a craze … adding caffeine to all kinds of foods and beverages." The FDA has standards for beverages that contain caffeine, but not for snack foods.