Two recent deaths from an overdose of caffeine prompted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in April to issue a new guidance. FDA is now soliciting comments.
In 2013 FDA warned that “products with added caffeine (both liquids and solids) are proliferating in the food supply.” Soon after FDA banned alcoholic beverages with unusually high quantities of caffeine. The more recent rules are proposed in “Highly Concentrated Caffeine in Dietary Supplements.” (www.fda.gov/FoodGuidances).
The European Union’s Food Safety Authority considers ingestion of up to 400 mgs daily to be safe when consumed throughout the day. Doses accumulate putting coffee drinkers at risk because of the likelihood of ingesting unknown amounts in foods, beverages, and unlikely sources such as gum, and candy. A teaspoon of caffeine powder contains 3,200 mgs, far exceeding the toxic dose.