FSA issues urgent caffeine consumption guidance following fatal overdose incident

Caffeine is most commonly known as being found in drinks like coffee, tea and energy drinks.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) have issued new guidance on the safe use of caffeine in food supplements. This move aims to protect consumers and encourage manufacturers to ensure accurate labelling of products containing high levels of caffeine.

With caffeine naturally present in a variety of foods and drinks such as coffee, tea and energy drinks, the FSA and FSS advise consumers to carefully monitor their overall intake, particularly when using supplements. While caffeine intake of up to 400mg per day is considered safe for most adults, the guidance recommends that pregnant women should limit their consumption to 200mg per day. This is roughly equivalent to two mugs of instant coffee or one mug of filter coffee.

The release of this guidance follows an incident in the UK, where a man died after miscalculating the amount of caffeine powder he was using, inadvertently consuming the equivalent of up to 200 cups of coffee. The case highlighted the potential dangers of highly concentrated caffeine supplements. In addition, a survey found that fewer than half of consumers check dosage instructions when using supplements, with 20 percent admitting they do not read the label at all.

Professor Robin May, Chief Scientific Advisor at the FSA, expressed concern about the widespread lack of awareness regarding caffeine content in food supplements. He said: “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.”

Updated caffeine guidance

To address these concerns, the FSA and FSS collaborated with other government departments to consolidate existing information for both consumers and businesses. The updated guidance, available on their website, provides easily accessible resources aimed at promoting safe consumption practices.

Caffeine, particularly in high doses, can lead to side effects such as anxiety, sleeplessness, agitation, diarrhoea and palpitations. Those with underlying health conditions, including heart disease and high blood pressure, or individuals who are sensitive to caffeine, may experience more severe symptoms. Additionally, people with mental health conditions may find that high intake worsens symptoms of psychosis.

In light of these risks, businesses are reminded of their responsibility to comply with labelling and composition requirements. This includes ensuring that products containing high levels of caffeine carry appropriate warnings, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children and pregnant women.

The guidance emphasises the importance of consumer safety, with both agencies urging individuals to check labels and manage their overall intake.