The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) have alerted consumers to the dangers of caffeine in food supplements following a UK incident where a man fatally miscalculated his intake. The agencies emphasised that exceptionally concentrated forms of caffeine, such as powders, can be “extremely potent” and urged adherence to the labelled dosage instructions using precise measuring tools.
The advisory comes after Tom Mansfield, a father of two and fitness trainer from Colwyn Bay in Wales, passed away in January 2021 due to an overdose when taking a quantity of caffeine powder equivalent to around 200 cups of coffee. Mr. Mansfield attempted to measure between 60mg and 300mg of the substance with a scale designed for a range of 2g to 5kg, which led to his ingesting too much caffeine.
Subsequently, a multi-agency working group has been addressing wider issues on the trading and use of caffeine supplements, prompting further investigative work. Surveys conducted by the watchdogs show that less than half of supplement users check for dosage details, while 20% admit they neglect reading labels at all.
Further studies indicate that there’s a general lack of awareness or understanding among consumers about the caffeine content in food supplements. Caffeine is a popular choice among fitness enthusiasts, with several health websites advocating its use for enhancing sports performance in specific doses.
However, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) advise that caffeine from supplements should be considered alongside other sources like coffee, tea, and energy drinks, reports Gloucestershire Live. Adults can typically consume up to 400mg of caffeine daily without adverse effects, but expectant mothers are advised to limit their intake to 200mg per day.
Excessive caffeine can lead to anxiety, sleeplessness, agitation, palpitations, diarrhoea, and restlessness. Those with mental health conditions may see an exacerbation of psychosis.
The impact could be more severe in individuals who are sensitive to caffeine or have underlying health issues such as heart disease or high blood pressure. The FSA’s chief scientific adviser Professor Robin May stated: “While caffeine is found naturally in many food products, we have evidence that people are unaware of the higher levels of caffeine in some supplements and the risk this can pose.
“Pure and highly concentrated caffeine supplements such as caffeine powder can be extremely potent, so you should always follow the dose instructions on the label and use appropriate measuring equipment to make sure it’s accurate. If people are experiencing caffeine side effects, such as sleeplessness and agitation, they should consider the amount of caffeine they are getting from supplements in addition to other components of their diet.
“We are also recommending that pregnant women limit their daily caffeine consumption to 200mg the equivalent of roughly two mugs of instant coffee or one mug of filter coffee and check the label for a warning that the product may be unsuitable.
“We are also reminding businesses of their responsibility to supply safe food and comply with food labelling and compositional requirements, so that consumers will have information to help them make informed choices about what they’re eating.”