Q: I saw a recent article about caffeine hitting store shelves. That’s fine with me but the target isn’t toward me with my two cups of coffee in the morning to provide a jump start on the day. It’s at children. What’s the scoop?
A: You would be amazed at the kid-friendly choices children have today when it comes to those foods that contain caffeine. If you are unaware of its popularity, you’re not alone; the FDA didn’t for a long time either. Caffeine is now included in some maple syrups, cookies, gums, candies, gummi bears, waffles, sodas, and countless other products too numerous to mention. Things may have jolted out of control when Red Bull hit the market in 1997. The drink is sold in 8.4 oz cans and contains 80 mg of caffeine. The problem is that colas are the only foods with an imposed FDA caffeine limit of 71 mg per 12 ounce can. A famous cola drink contains 34 mg in a 12 ounce can which, when compared with five ounces of coffee that contains 115 mg, may appear harmless; however, the problem here is that coffee is not marketed toward children, yet when we get to catchy names like Monster, Full Throttle, Hardcore Energize Bullet, Crackheads gourmet chocolate and Foosh Energy Mints, you know where the attention is focused – toward the younger generation – toward our children and grandchildren!
Monster lists caffeine as an ingredient without clarifying the amount included. Full Throttle lists 9 mg PER OUNCE! You know full well a kid will likely consume all 16 ounces and may become wired and why not? He or she has just had 144 mg of caffeine and is expected to behave properly. Hardcore Energize Bullet contains 300 mg of caffeine and is packed in a 2.9 oz bottle! Advertising cleverly indicates the product also contains good things such as amino acids, B vitamins, and even policosanol – a nutritional supplement said to reduce bad cholesterol levels. Now, do you for a single minute think an adolescent is worried about his or her cholesterol level? I certainly don’t. Crackheads contain 200 mg of caffeine per box. Foosh Energy Mints, are you ready for this, contain 100 mg of caffeine PER MINT!
The bottom line is that manufacturers do not have to tell the FDA how much caffeine is included in candy, gum or soft drinks (excluding colas). They are obliged to simply list the ingredient. Caffeine is minimally regulated because of what is known as GRAS, Generally Recognized As Safe by experts. My guess here is that those experts are adults, not kids. And by the way, tell me a child drinks only one energy drink each day. According to the FDA, this allows manufacturers to determine on their own whether a new food ingredient or a new use of an old ingredient is generally safe.
Consuming too much, whether knowingly or unknowingly, is common. An adult may perceive he or she needs a jolt, that extra boost. A report must be on the supervisor’s desk by the end of the day, the person did not sleep well the night before, the mortgage is late and the funds aren’t available, Johnny needs braces, the car broke down. We all have excuses. But, even with such circumstances, overdosing with caffeine for adults is rather uncommon. Perhaps that is because we know the consequences. We will get the jitters, have palpitations, feel terrible, get a throbbing headache, and can’t settle down. Children don’t have the option of experience – at least we hope they don’t. Despite this, in 2011 the American Academy of Pediatrics indicated scientific evidence showed that caffeine and other stimulant substances contained in energy drinks have no place in the diet of children and adolescents.
Readers, it is up to us to restrict those popular gums, candies, sodas and energy drinks all children and adolescents beg for. The packaging sells, no matter what the product is inside and we must be aware of the potential problems and addictions that can result. Read labels. Educate yourself. Speak frankly with your children to help them understand there are better choices – perhaps even those found when the decision is to opt for bottled water. Good luck.
