The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has taken a proactive step by issuing a public advisory aimed at enhancing awareness surrounding the consumption of caffeinated energy drinks (CEDs) and their potential impact on health. Released on August 21, the advisory serves as a comprehensive resource for consumers, offering essential insights into the consumption of these beverages.
Caffeinated energy drinks encompass a range of beverages or formulations that contain added caffeine, often accompanied by an array of supplementary components such as vitamins, minerals, taurine, and herbal elements. These products might also incorporate natural sources of caffeine, such as guarana and yerba mate. Notably, regulations in Canada permit a maximum caffeine content of 180 mg per serving for these drinks.
With the welfare of consumers in mind, the CFIA urges individuals to exercise diligence in evaluating product labels. This entails assessing the caffeine content per serving, tallying the number of servings enclosed within the container, and adhering to recommended daily consumption guidelines. The advisory underscores that CEDs should not be consumed by those under the age of 14, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or individuals who exhibit heightened sensitivity to caffeine. Adults aged 18 and above are further advised to exercise caution and ensure their daily caffeine intake does not exceed 400 mg.
The CFIA underscores that an excess of caffeine intake can potentially trigger undesirable health effects, including but not limited to insomnia, irritability, headaches, and nervousness. In recent times, certain caffeinated energy drinks have been recalled by the CFIA due to elevated caffeine levels and inadequate labeling practices, which encompass the omission of essential cautionary statements. Consumers are strongly encouraged to promptly report any incidents related to consumption to the CFIA. Additionally, they retain the option to directly communicate with manufacturers should the need arise.
