The Muscle Mag
The agency, in conjunction with Food Standards Scotland (FSS), is warning consumers to be mindful of their overall caffeine intake. They urge careful consideration of caffeine levels in supplements, in addition to other sources like coffee, tea, and energy drinks.
An unfortunate incident in the UK prompted this advice, where a professional trainer passed away after mistakenly ingesting a fatal amount of caffeine powder. His error led to consuming an equivalent of up to 200 cups of coffee.
In response to this, the FSA conducted a survey that revealed less than half of respondents said they check supplement dosage instructions, and 20% admitted to not reading supplement labels at all. Research indicates a lack of awareness among consumers regarding caffeine levels in food supplements.
To tackle these issues, the FSA and FSS have compiled essential information for consumers and businesses to provide clear, actionable advice on safe caffeine consumption from supplements.
Commenting on this guidance, Professor Robin May, chief scientific advisor at FSA, stated: “We are reminding businesses of their duty to supply safe food and adhere to food labeling and compositional requirements so consumers can make informed choices about their diet.”
Advice for businesses
Food supplements in the UK must comply with food laws, with domestic laws applying to businesses in Northern Ireland and the EU. Food Business Operators (FBOs) must register with local authorities, although there is no specific maximum caffeine limit for supplements. There are regulations regarding caffeine as a food flavoring and specific labeling requirements for products containing caffeine.
Labelling guidance
The UK government recommends that drinks with over 150 mg/liter of caffeine be labeled with a warning: “High caffeine content. Not recommended for children or pregnant or breastfeeding women.” This also applies to concentrated or dried drinks exceeding this caffeine level when prepared. However, it does not apply to drinks with ‘tea’ or ‘coffee’ in their name.
For food products with added caffeine, the label should state: “Contains caffeine. Not recommended for children or pregnant women.” The warning should be near the food name, with the caffeine content listed in milligrams per 100 grams or milliliters.
Advice for consumers
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) advises a daily caffeine intake of up to 400 mg for healthy adults, and 200 mg for pregnant women. For children, a safe amount is 3 mg/kg of body weight. The FSA cautions that excessive intake can lead to adverse effects like anxiety, sleep disruptions, cardiovascular issues, and even seizures or death in extreme cases. Individuals should monitor their caffeine intake from various sources and follow dosage instructions on product labels.
Professor May added, “Pure and highly concentrated caffeine supplements like caffeine powder can be extremely potent, so you should always follow dose instructions on the label and use accurate measuring equipment.”
In-depth guidelines
Caffeine gained popularity among athletes after its removal from the World Anti-Doping Agency’s banned substances list in 2004 and is now a commonly used ergogenic aid in sports. Various studies have explored the mechanisms through which caffeine enhances athletic performance, including its effects on muscle glycogen preservation, calcium release, and the central nervous system. The effectiveness of caffeine supplementation depends on factors like dosage, form, timing of consumption, training status, sex, and exercise type.
Recent research found that a moderate caffeine dosage of 6 mg/kg improved short-term maximal performance and minimized adverse effects in female team sport athletes.
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