Goody's Powder
Encyclopedia
Goody's Powder is an over-the-counter
pain reliever, in powder
form, marketed and sold by GlaxoSmithKline
Pharmaceuticals. Goody's contains aspirin
, caffeine
, and acetaminophen, in a formula similar to Excedrin
, a product of Novartis
. The formulation of "Goody's Extra Strength Headache Powders" is currently 520 mg. aspirin, 260 mg. acetaminophen and 32.5 mg. caffeine, which differs from other similarly powdered products under the same brand name.
Goody's is sold primarily in the southern United States
. For many years, the face of Goody's has been NASCAR
legend Richard Petty
, who appears in television commercials, billboard
s and print advertisements for the product. He and country music
artist Trace Adkins
, a spokesman for BC Powder
, have recorded a series of radio advertisements together.
Goody's Powder is mixed in water and ingested as a drink. The perceived benefit of delivering pain reliever in this form is that it provides faster pain relief because it does not need to be dissolved by the digestive system (as a tablet
would) before entering the bloodstream. However, the very acid
ic taste and awkwardness of ingesting the powder are often displeasurable.
and manufactured for many years by Goody's Manufacturing Company, a family-owned business
founded in 1932 and based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
. The company also produced other medicinal products, including throat sprays and lozenge
s. The headache powder was introduced in 1936. Since 1995 GlaxoSmithKline has produced Goody's Powders in Memphis, Tennessee
.
events and teams, especially NASCAR
. The Daytona Nationwide Race was sponsored by Goody's from 1982 to 1996. Goody's is the title sponsor of the Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500
Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway
and was the title sponsor of the Goody's Headache Powder 500
Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway
from 1996 to 1999. Goody's was the official pain reliever of NASCAR
from 1977 until 2007, when Tylenol
became the new pain reliever of NASCAR.
Goody's sponsored Chad McCumbee's
No. 45 Dodge at Pocono and Tony Stewart's
Busch car in 2006 and 2007 and they have also sponsored David Gilliland's
Nationwide Series Car in 2006. Goody's sponsored Bobby Labonte's
Dodge at the 2009 fall Martinsville race. Goody's was also a sponsor for Aldo Bennedetti's car (character played by Don Simpson) in the movie Days of Thunder
.
in December 1992 after William Williams of Morristown, Tennessee
died after ingesting a packet of the powder that contained cyanide
. It was later determined that the package had clear evidence of tampering
and that the death probably was a suicide
. Goody's Manufacturing Company, the manufacturer at the time, was not found at fault.
Over-the-counter drug
Over-the-counter drugs are medicines that may be sold directly to a consumer without a prescription from a healthcare professional, as compared to prescription drugs, which may be sold only to consumers possessing a valid prescription...
pain reliever, in powder
Powder (substance)
A powder is a dry,thick bulk solid composed of a large number of very fine particles that may flow freely when shaken or tilted. Powders are a special sub-class of granular materials, although the terms powder and granular are sometimes used to distinguish separate classes of material...
form, marketed and sold by GlaxoSmithKline
GlaxoSmithKline
GlaxoSmithKline plc is a global pharmaceutical, biologics, vaccines and consumer healthcare company headquartered in London, United Kingdom...
Pharmaceuticals. Goody's contains aspirin
Aspirin
Aspirin , also known as acetylsalicylic acid , is a salicylate drug, often used as an analgesic to relieve minor aches and pains, as an antipyretic to reduce fever, and as an anti-inflammatory medication. It was discovered by Arthur Eichengrun, a chemist with the German company Bayer...
, caffeine
Caffeine
Caffeine is a bitter, white crystalline xanthine alkaloid that acts as a stimulant drug. Caffeine is found in varying quantities in the seeds, leaves, and fruit of some plants, where it acts as a natural pesticide that paralyzes and kills certain insects feeding on the plants...
, and acetaminophen, in a formula similar to Excedrin
Excedrin
Excedrin is an over-the-counter headache pain reliever, typically in the form of tablets or caplets. It contains acetaminophen , aspirin, and caffeine. Until late 2005 it was manufactured by Bristol-Myers Squibb, but in July 2005 it was purchased by Novartis, along with other products from BMS's...
, a product of Novartis
Novartis
Novartis International AG is a multinational pharmaceutical company based in Basel, Switzerland, ranking number three in sales among the world-wide industry...
. The formulation of "Goody's Extra Strength Headache Powders" is currently 520 mg. aspirin, 260 mg. acetaminophen and 32.5 mg. caffeine, which differs from other similarly powdered products under the same brand name.
Goody's is sold primarily in the southern United States
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
. For many years, the face of Goody's has been NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
legend Richard Petty
Richard Petty
Richard Lee Petty is a former NASCAR driver who raced in the Strictly Stock/Grand National Era and the NASCAR Winston Cup Series...
, who appears in television commercials, billboard
Billboard
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
s and print advertisements for the product. He and country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
artist Trace Adkins
Trace Adkins
Tracy Darrell "Trace" Adkins is an American country music artist. He made his debut in 1996 with the album Dreamin' Out Loud, released on Capitol Records Nashville. Since then, Adkins has released seven more studio albums and two Greatest Hits compilations...
, a spokesman for BC Powder
BC Powder
BC Powder is an over-the-counter analgesic pain reliever owned by GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals and manufactured in Memphis, TN. It was conceived at the Five Points Drug Company in Durham, NC, in 1906, by Germain Bernard and C.T. Council, who took the initials of their last names to create the...
, have recorded a series of radio advertisements together.
Goody's Powder is mixed in water and ingested as a drink. The perceived benefit of delivering pain reliever in this form is that it provides faster pain relief because it does not need to be dissolved by the digestive system (as a tablet
Tablet
A tablet is a pharmaceutical dosage form. It comprises a mixture of active substances and excipients, usually in powder form, pressed or compacted from a powder into a solid dose...
would) before entering the bloodstream. However, the very acid
Acid
An acid is a substance which reacts with a base. Commonly, acids can be identified as tasting sour, reacting with metals such as calcium, and bases like sodium carbonate. Aqueous acids have a pH of less than 7, where an acid of lower pH is typically stronger, and turn blue litmus paper red...
ic taste and awkwardness of ingesting the powder are often displeasurable.
History
Goody's Powder was developed in conjunction with the Herpelscheimer Clinic in Graz AustriaAustria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and manufactured for many years by Goody's Manufacturing Company, a family-owned business
Family business
A family business is a business in which one or more members of one or more families have a significant ownership interest and significant commitments toward the business’ overall well-being....
founded in 1932 and based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina, with a 2010 population of 229,617. Winston-Salem is the county seat and largest city of Forsyth County and the fourth-largest city in the state. Winston-Salem is the second largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region and is home to...
. The company also produced other medicinal products, including throat sprays and lozenge
Throat lozenge
A throat lozenge, cough drop, troche, or cough sweet is a small, medicated tablet intended to be dissolved slowly in the mouth to temporarily stop coughs and lubricate and soothe irritated tissues of the throat , possibly from the common cold or influenza...
s. The headache powder was introduced in 1936. Since 1995 GlaxoSmithKline has produced Goody's Powders in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
.
Race sponsorship
Goody's has a long history of sponsoring motor racingAuto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
events and teams, especially NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
. The Daytona Nationwide Race was sponsored by Goody's from 1982 to 1996. Goody's is the title sponsor of the Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500
Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500
The Goody's Fast Relief 500 is a 500-lap NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held at the Martinsville Speedway in , just outside of Martinsville...
Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, near Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved...
and was the title sponsor of the Goody's Headache Powder 500
Goody's Headache Powder 500
At one time, two different NASCAR races were known as the Goody's Headache Powder 500:* For the race at Martinsville Speedway from 1996 to 1998, see Goody's Cool Orange 500* For the race at Bristol Motor Speedway from 1996 to 1999, see Irwin Tools Night Race...
Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961...
from 1996 to 1999. Goody's was the official pain reliever of NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
from 1977 until 2007, when Tylenol
Tylenol
Tylenol is a North American brand of drugs advertised for reducing pain, reducing fever, and relieving the symptoms of allergies, cold, cough, and flu. The active ingredient of its original, flagship product, paracetamol , is marketed as an analgesic and antipyretic...
became the new pain reliever of NASCAR.
Goody's sponsored Chad McCumbee's
Chad McCumbee
Chad McCumbee is an American stock car driver. He currently drives the #1 ModSpace Ford Fusion for Andy Belmont Racing in the ARCA Racing Series and has run four full seasons in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. He is also known for his portrayal of Dale Earnhardt, Jr...
No. 45 Dodge at Pocono and Tony Stewart's
Tony Stewart
Anthony Wayne "Tony" Stewart is an American auto racing driver and owner. Throughout his racing career, Stewart has won titles in Indy cars and stock cars as well as midget, sprint and USAC Silver Crown cars, giving him the recognition of "one of the finest racers of his generation."Stewart...
Busch car in 2006 and 2007 and they have also sponsored David Gilliland's
David Gilliland
David Gilliland is a NASCAR driver and he currently drives the #34 Taco Bell Ford Fusion for Front Row Motorsports. He is the son of former Cup and West Coast driver Butch Gilliland. He was born in Riverside, California....
Nationwide Series Car in 2006. Goody's sponsored Bobby Labonte's
Bobby Labonte
Robert Alan "Bobby" Labonte is an American race car driver in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. He currently drives the #47 Kroger/Clorox/Kimberly-Clark/Kingsford/Reese Towpower Hitches Toyota Camry for JTG Daugherty Racing. He currently resides in Trinity, North Carolina. He is married to his wife...
Dodge at the 2009 fall Martinsville race. Goody's was also a sponsor for Aldo Bennedetti's car (character played by Don Simpson) in the movie Days of Thunder
Days of Thunder
Days of Thunder is a 1990 American auto racing film released by Paramount Pictures, produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Tony Scott. The cast includes Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Robert Duvall, Randy Quaid, Cary Elwes and Michael Rooker. The film also features appearances...
.
Recall
Goody's Powder underwent a nationwide product recallProduct recall
A product recall is a request to return to the maker a batch or an entire production run of a product, usually due to the discovery of safety issues. The recall is an effort to limit liability for corporate negligence and to improve or avoid damage to publicity...
in December 1992 after William Williams of Morristown, Tennessee
Morristown, Tennessee
Morristown is a city in, and the county seat of, Hamblen County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 29,137 at the 2010 United States Census. It is the principal city of the Morristown, Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Grainger, Hamblen and Jefferson counties...
died after ingesting a packet of the powder that contained cyanide
Cyanide
A cyanide is a chemical compound that contains the cyano group, -C≡N, which consists of a carbon atom triple-bonded to a nitrogen atom. Cyanides most commonly refer to salts of the anion CN−. Most cyanides are highly toxic....
. It was later determined that the package had clear evidence of tampering
Tamper-evident
Tamper-evident describes a device or process that makes unauthorized access to the protected object easily detected. Seals, markings or other techniques may be tamper indicating.-Tampering:...
and that the death probably was a suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
. Goody's Manufacturing Company, the manufacturer at the time, was not found at fault.