PUNE: The country's food
safety and standards regulator has allowed use of higher levels of
caffeine in energy drinks. The set standard of 145 parts per million
(ppm) of caffeine has been relaxed up to 320 ppm for energy drinks, said
Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) officials on Thursday.
The regulator, however, has stipulated that manufacturers infusing energy drinks with higher amounts of caffeine will have to print warnings such as-'caffeinated beverage', 'use not more than two cans a day', 'ingredients of this product consumed through other sources may also be kept in view', 'not recommended for children, pregnant and lactating women', 'not for persons sensitive to caffeine,' and 'caffeine consumed through this and other sources not to exceed 160 mg per day'-prominently on the label of the energy drink products. Energy drinks are usually targeted at youth and health enthusiasts.
"Food Safety and Standards Authority of India i.e. FSSAI has given no-objection certificates to manufacturers for use of caffeine up to 320 PPM in energy drinks, which was earlier restricted to not more than 145 ppm. The permission is meant only for energy drinks and not for other carbonated stuff drinks
like cold drinks and similar other beverages where caffeine is used but is below 145 ppm only," said Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner (food), FDA.
The Prevention of Food Adulteration Act had a ceiling of 145 parts per million (ppm) of caffeine in carbonated beverages. But energy drink manufacturers wanted a 320 ppm cap, Kekare added.
Manufacturers of energy drinks claim that these drinks help increase alertness of the mind and improve concentration, stamina and athletic performance. But in reality, the caffeine in them can impact health severely when consumed in excess.
Caffeine is present in many foods and drugs - in coffee, tea, energy and soft drinks, candy bars, and over-the-counter cold remedies and analgesics. It is consumed daily by approximately 80% of the world's population. Small doses of caffeine increase alertness, but there are serious health risks from consuming large quantities and from long term use of caffeine.
Commenting on the ill effects of excessive caffeine consumption, internal medicine expert Abhijeet Joshi said, "Caffeine is the most widely consumed stimulant drug
in the world. When caffeine is ingested chronically in excessive amounts, it produces a specific toxidrome (caffeinism), affecting primarily the central nervous system (CNS) and causing cardiovascular and gastrointestinal hyper stimulation."
The symptoms include headache, lightheadedness, anxiety and agitation, tremulousness, tingling in extremities, confusion and seizures. Heart related ill effects include palpitations and chest pain. Stomach related ill effects include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and anorexia, Joshi said.
The health risks from consuming large quantities and from long term use of caffeine are serious. The increased alertness and energy derived from caffeine are not worth the negative health risks. A safe, natural way to increase alertness and energy needs to be substituted for ingesting caffeine.
Caffeine is an additive drug and must be treated as such, say doctors.
The regulator, however, has stipulated that manufacturers infusing energy drinks with higher amounts of caffeine will have to print warnings such as-'caffeinated beverage', 'use not more than two cans a day', 'ingredients of this product consumed through other sources may also be kept in view', 'not recommended for children, pregnant and lactating women', 'not for persons sensitive to caffeine,' and 'caffeine consumed through this and other sources not to exceed 160 mg per day'-prominently on the label of the energy drink products. Energy drinks are usually targeted at youth and health enthusiasts.
"Food Safety and Standards Authority of India i.e. FSSAI has given no-objection certificates to manufacturers for use of caffeine up to 320 PPM in energy drinks, which was earlier restricted to not more than 145 ppm. The permission is meant only for energy drinks and not for other carbonated stuff drinks
like cold drinks and similar other beverages where caffeine is used but is below 145 ppm only," said Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner (food), FDA.
The Prevention of Food Adulteration Act had a ceiling of 145 parts per million (ppm) of caffeine in carbonated beverages. But energy drink manufacturers wanted a 320 ppm cap, Kekare added.
Manufacturers of energy drinks claim that these drinks help increase alertness of the mind and improve concentration, stamina and athletic performance. But in reality, the caffeine in them can impact health severely when consumed in excess.
Caffeine is present in many foods and drugs - in coffee, tea, energy and soft drinks, candy bars, and over-the-counter cold remedies and analgesics. It is consumed daily by approximately 80% of the world's population. Small doses of caffeine increase alertness, but there are serious health risks from consuming large quantities and from long term use of caffeine.
Commenting on the ill effects of excessive caffeine consumption, internal medicine expert Abhijeet Joshi said, "Caffeine is the most widely consumed stimulant drug
in the world. When caffeine is ingested chronically in excessive amounts, it produces a specific toxidrome (caffeinism), affecting primarily the central nervous system (CNS) and causing cardiovascular and gastrointestinal hyper stimulation."
The symptoms include headache, lightheadedness, anxiety and agitation, tremulousness, tingling in extremities, confusion and seizures. Heart related ill effects include palpitations and chest pain. Stomach related ill effects include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and anorexia, Joshi said.
The health risks from consuming large quantities and from long term use of caffeine are serious. The increased alertness and energy derived from caffeine are not worth the negative health risks. A safe, natural way to increase alertness and energy needs to be substituted for ingesting caffeine.
Caffeine is an additive drug and must be treated as such, say doctors.
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