20.08.2024
Energy drinks are generally drinks with high levels of caffeine. They are usually marketed as giving a mental and physical ‘boost’ by providing more ‘energy’ than regular soft drinks like cola. They’re different to ‘sports drinks’ which you might use to replace electrolytes lost during exercise.
Caffeine levels in a can of energy drink can vary between 80mg (equivalent to two cans of cola or a mug of instant coffee) and 200mg (equivalent to five cans of cola).
Imported versions of energy drinks often have higher caffeine content than the UK equivalent product. Even small cans of energy drinks or bottles of ‘energy shot’ products can contain anywhere from 80mg to as much as 200mg of caffeine in a small 60ml bottle.
Consumers should always check the label before drinking them.
How much caffeine is safe for me?
In May 2015, The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published a report on the safety of caffeine. They looked at research on the short-term adverse effects of caffeine such as interrupted sleep, anxiety and behavioural changes and increased blood pressure.
EFSA’s advice for those without underlying health problems such as hypertension, is that:
- Pregnant and breast-feeding women: Daily intakes of caffeine up to 200mg do not raise safety concerns for the unborn child or breastfed child. For breast-feeding women, single doses of caffeine up to 200mg are not a safety concern for the child.
- Adults: Single doses of caffeine up to 200mg and daily intakes of caffeine up to 400mg do not raise safety concerns.
- Children and Adolescents: Single doses of caffeine up to 3mg/kg body weight (bw) and daily intakes of caffeine up to 3mg/kg bw do not raise safety concerns. For a 10-year-old child weighing 30kg, this would work out to around 90mg of caffeine. Even a small can of energy drink can contain up to 200mg of caffeine and exceed the recommended daily intake for a child.
Based on current scientific opinions on the safety of caffeine, children or other people sensitive to caffeine should only consume caffeine in moderation.
Pregnant and breastfeeding women are advised not to have more than 200mg of caffeine over a day.
This is roughly two mugs of instant coffee or one mug of filter coffee. Drinks like espresso and lattes, which are made from ground coffee, typically contain higher levels of caffeine per mug.
When purchasing energy drinks of ‘energy shots’ containing caffeine, we advise that you always check the label to see how much caffeine the product contains.
What will the label tell me?
The Food Information (assimilated Regulation (EU) 1169/2011) requires specific labelling for high-caffeine drinks and foods where caffeine has been added for a physiological effect. This labelling helps consumers to identify foods with high caffeine content in those products where they may not expect to find it.
Caffeine in drinks
Drinks that contain caffeine from whatever source at a level over 150mg per litre (mg/l) must state: ‘High caffeine content. Not recommended for children or pregnant or breast-feeding women.
This must be in the same field of vision as the name of the product, along with the amount of caffeine expressed in mg per 100ml.
Caffeine in foods
Foods (other than drinks) to which caffeine is added for a physiological purpose must state: ‘Contains caffeine. Not recommended for children or pregnant women.
This must be in the same field of vision as the name of the food along with the amount of caffeine in mg per 100g or per 100ml.
BSDA Voluntary Code
The British Soft Drinks Association has a voluntary Code of Practice on energy drinks, which suggests that the term ‘Consume Moderately’ (or similar words) should be included on the label and that such products should not be promoted or marketed to those under 16 years of age.
Caffeine added for flavouring
The above labelling rules do not apply to foods (including drinks) where caffeine is added for flavour rather than for a physiological purpose. These types of foods and drinks must comply with flavouring legislation ( assimilated Regulation (EU) 1334/2008).
This limits the use of caffeine for flavouring purposes and sets maximum levels depending on the particular food or drink it is used in. For regular soft drinks like cola, the maximum amount of added caffeine permitted is 150 mg/l.
The labelling legislation (assimilated Regulation (EU) 1169/2011) requires that where caffeine is used as a flavouring, the term ‘caffeine’ must appear after the word ‘flavouring(s)’ in the list of ingredients.
SOURCE
Food Standards Agency (UK)
