The Muscle Mag
The agency alongside Food Standards Scotland (FSS) is advising consumers to be cautious of their total caffeine consumption, emphasizing that caffeine levels in supplements should be carefully calculated along with other sources such as coffee, tea, and energy drinks.
An unfortunate incident in the UK led to this advisory, where a professional trainer tragically passed away after mistakenly consuming a lethal dose of caffeine powder equivalent to up to 200 cups of coffee.
A survey conducted by the FSA revealed that less than half of respondents check dosage instructions on supplements, with 20% admitting they do not read supplement labels at all. This lack of awareness indicates that many consumers are unaware of caffeine levels in food supplements.
In response to these concerns, the FSA and FSS have compiled essential information for consumers and businesses to provide clear, actionable advice on safe consumption of caffeine from supplements.
Professor Robin May, chief scientific advisor at FSA, commented, “We are reminding businesses of their responsibility to supply safe food and comply with food labeling and compositional requirements to empower consumers to make informed choices about their diet.”
Advice for businesses
Food supplements in the UK must comply with food law, and businesses in Northern Ireland and the EU must adhere to domestic regulations. Food Business Operators (FBOs) must register with local authorities, but there is no specific maximum caffeine limit for supplements.
Regulations on caffeine as a food flavoring and specific labeling requirements for products containing caffeine are in place.
Labelling guidance
The UK government advises that drinks with over 150 mg/liter of caffeine should be labeled with a warning: “High caffeine content. Not recommended for children or pregnant or breastfeeding women.”
This warning also applies to concentrated or dried drinks exceeding this caffeine level when prepared, excluding tea or coffee drinks if ‘tea’ or ‘coffee’ is in their name.
For food products with added caffeine for a physiological purpose, the label should state: “Contains caffeine. Not recommended for children or pregnant women.” The warning must be placed near the food name, along with the caffeine content in milligrams per 100 grams or milliliters.
Advice for consumers
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recommends a daily caffeine intake of up to 400 mg for healthy adults, 200 mg for pregnant women, and 3 mg/kg of body weight for children. Excessive caffeine intake can have adverse effects ranging from anxiety to seizures or death.
Consumers should monitor all caffeine sources and follow dosage instructions on product labels to avoid excessive intake, especially with pure and highly concentrated caffeine supplements like caffeine powder.
Insubstantial guidelines
Caffeine is a popular ergogenic aid in sports, with studies showing various performance-enhancing mechanisms such as preserving muscle glycogen and promoting calcium release. However, the effectiveness of caffeine depends on factors like dosage, form, and training status.
Recent research suggests that a moderate caffeine dosage can improve performance and minimize adverse effects, particularly in female athletes, highlighting the importance of tailored supplementation guidelines.
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