The use of caffeine in foodstuffs
Description
There is a connection between a high intake of caffeine and a series of health hazards, which are described in this advisory report. The results of this investigation show that women of childbearing age and children constitute high-risk groups. A previous advisory report of the SHC provides an in-depth discussion of the hazards attendant on consuming energy drinks. Indeed, it is the caffeine that remains the major cause of concern.
There is currently no acknowledged reference value as regards the exposure to caffeine. The SHC takes the view that, for the adult population, the threshold above which there is an observable increase in anxiety is 3 mg/kg/day. For children, the upper intake level is 2.5 mg/kg/day, with greater intakes liable to result in altered behaviour. For women of childbearing age, it is advised that the daily intake should not exceed 300 mg/day.
The intake of caffeine not only results from the consumption of coffee, tea, cocoa, soft drinks, but also that of energy drinks, their shot forms and alcoholic beverages, which has been rising significantly these past few years. It should be pointed out from the start that the data on the intake of caffeine in Belgium are scarce. The most recent are those provided by the 2004 food consumption survey. They have been used in this advisory report to assess the intake of caffeine. The average daily intake of caffeine for adults (aged 19-50) in Belgium amounts to 2.3 mg/kg. For around one quarter of the adult Belgian population, the daily intake exceeds the 3 mg/kg threshold. An additional intake of 60 to 80 mg caffeine/day causes the proportion of individuals whose daily intake is above the 3 mg/kg/day threshold to double. Such an intake can be reached by consuming a single energy drink unit.
This advisory report compares these results with those from other countries.
Notes
Files
The use of caffeine in foodstuffs_OP_BE_fr_12-01-2012.pdf
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Additional details
Subjects
- caffeine
- http://id.agrisemantics.org/gacs/C8550
- foodstuffs
- http://id.agrisemantics.org/gacs/C540