This document discusses the need for the FDA to regulate caffeine. It provides background on the widespread availability of caffeinated products and recent studies linking caffeine to health issues. The document is divided into four sections: the effects of caffeine, reasons it should be regulated, possible methods of regulation, and the impact of regulation. Key points include: caffeine consumption has been linked to increased hospitalizations; it is marketed heavily to youth; accidental overconsumption is possible due to its addition to many products; and strict regulation combining limits on amounts and types of caffeinated products is needed.
1. High protein is proving to be more than just a fad — will it change the way we eat?
2. Slimming and beauty benefits of tea continue to be a focus for innovation in Asia
3. Going against the grain: Using health and history to promote the ancient grain Kamut
4. Going against the grain: Using health and history to promote the ancient grain Kamut
5. Broccoli sprouts are explored as a detox ingredient
6. Can packaging help to make us healthier?
Ante la ardua batalla contra las tendencias delictivas a nivel mundial, actos antisociales y la misma esencia que compone el delito, las sociedades no sólo se han visto en la necesidad de crear leyes o sistemas de estrictas normativas cuales llevan a consecuencias penales, sino que –ante la rapidez evolutiva de la conducta transgresora y a consecuencia que estos comportamientos continúan desenvolviéndose en las etapas más tempranas de los individuos– la comunidad experta científica se ha dado la tarea de desarrollar programas, estrategia y modelos que respondan a una prevención funcional, aplicable y efectiva. De allí nace la prevención comunitaria, una estrategia de prevención utilizada a nivel internacional con países como: México, España, Francia e Italia y hasta Portugal. Desde esta perspectiva se analiza y discute la importancia de implementar esta estrategia como parte de los modelos preventivos en Puerto Rico. Además, se analiza la posibilidad de implementar un marco preventivo propio en base a la crisis delictiva en la cual se encuentra nuestro país sumergido. También se mencionan las deficiencias que se encuentran en la política pública del Estado Libre Asociado y se recomiendan las modificaciones o enmiendas necesarias para implementar cualquier proyecto de prevención considerando las medidas presupuestarias del país.
1. High protein is proving to be more than just a fad — will it change the way we eat?
2. Slimming and beauty benefits of tea continue to be a focus for innovation in Asia
3. Going against the grain: Using health and history to promote the ancient grain Kamut
4. Going against the grain: Using health and history to promote the ancient grain Kamut
5. Broccoli sprouts are explored as a detox ingredient
6. Can packaging help to make us healthier?
Ante la ardua batalla contra las tendencias delictivas a nivel mundial, actos antisociales y la misma esencia que compone el delito, las sociedades no sólo se han visto en la necesidad de crear leyes o sistemas de estrictas normativas cuales llevan a consecuencias penales, sino que –ante la rapidez evolutiva de la conducta transgresora y a consecuencia que estos comportamientos continúan desenvolviéndose en las etapas más tempranas de los individuos– la comunidad experta científica se ha dado la tarea de desarrollar programas, estrategia y modelos que respondan a una prevención funcional, aplicable y efectiva. De allí nace la prevención comunitaria, una estrategia de prevención utilizada a nivel internacional con países como: México, España, Francia e Italia y hasta Portugal. Desde esta perspectiva se analiza y discute la importancia de implementar esta estrategia como parte de los modelos preventivos en Puerto Rico. Además, se analiza la posibilidad de implementar un marco preventivo propio en base a la crisis delictiva en la cual se encuentra nuestro país sumergido. También se mencionan las deficiencias que se encuentran en la política pública del Estado Libre Asociado y se recomiendan las modificaciones o enmiendas necesarias para implementar cualquier proyecto de prevención considerando las medidas presupuestarias del país.
Pengrajin Alat Musik Rebana Terbang Gresik menyediakan berbagai berbagai macam alat musik rebana dan marawis dengan kualitas terbaik dan harga terjangkau
The obesity epidemic in the United States can be blamed on a number of factors; A sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, lack of physical activity and sugaring soda drinks. It's cheap, addictive and readily available. Soda accounts for between 11 and 19 percent of calories consumed worldwide. Before you take another drink consider the facts concerning sugar laden soda pop.
More Coffee Longer Lasting Erections
http://buyorganiccoffee.org/1391/more-coffee-linked-to-longer-lasting-erections/
And there is one more benefit of regular and healthy organic coffee. More coffee is linked to longer lasting erections! Forbes reports on a study published in the journal PLOS ONE. Coffee consumption is linked to decreased erectile dysfunction. That is to say if a man drinks more coffee he is more likely to be able to maintain an erection for the time desired.
According to a new study out in the journal PLOS ONE, caffeine intake is linked to reduced odds of having erectile dysfunction (ED) in men who drink the equivalent of two to three cups of coffee per day. Among the lifestyle factors that are known to put a man at risk of ED - poor diet, physical inactivity, smoking, and alcohol consumptions - caffeine has not been of the biggest candidates. But the new study suggests that like other areas of physical and mental health, ED may be another beneficiary of caffeine’s fascinating benefits. Since erectile function, and dysfunction, is in some ways an extension of cardiovascular health - and caffeine is known to have certain cardiovascular benefits - the idea that it could also help ED may not be so surprising. But for men who are devout coffee drinkers, the results may come as good news.
The odds of a man having difficulty maintaining an erection for the desired length of time is about 44 percent for men age 40 and over. For men over 70 the incidence of erectile dysfunction is 70 percent. So, just how much does coffee help?
What Is the Benefit of Coffee?
Researchers found that the caffeine equivalent of two to three cups of coffee a day were roughly forty percent less likely to have erectile dysfunction than those who do not drink coffee. The scientists believe that the benefit comes from caffeine. The benefit works for men who are overweight or frankly obese as well as men with hypertension, common reasons for erectile dysfunction. The caffeine in coffee does not help if erectile dysfunction is causes by diabetes, but coffee itself can help prevent diabetes!
Submit an Energy Drinks Health Implications Related to Caffeine T.docxpicklesvalery
Submit an Energy Drinks: Health Implications Related to Caffeine Toxicity
Final Outline
Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about the possible health effects that can be tied
to the consumption of energy drinks.
Central Idea/Thesis Statement: Energy drink consumption has raised several health concerns including caffeine toxicity, which can be tied to common reactions of jitteriness or insomnia, but also to more serious conditions like cardiac instability.
INTRODUCTION
I. We all know that having good academic standing, keeping up with your social spheres, and balancing that all out with work or other activities requires A LOT of energy.
II. Sometimes coffee no longer does the trick to keep you wide-awake and energized. We, as college students, then look for alternative solutions; we need all the energy we can get, and so some turn to energy drinks as the ultimate solution for a fast and easy energy boost.
III. When I say energy drinks, I am referring to any drink that is marketed to improve energy and alertness, usually containing high amounts of caffeine, taurine, sugars, and/or other herbal supplements (Seifert et al., 2011). Some examples that you may recognize are Red Bull, Monster, and Rockstar. Personally, I don’t drink energy drinks, but many of my friends and classmates do. In fact, 50% of this class reported consuming energy drinks—some more frequently than others, but drinking them nonetheless. Similarly, a 2007 survey of 496 college students, reported in
Excellent Outline 1
Pediatrics, the official journal for the American Academy of Pediatrics, consumption among these students was reported to be 51%. On a more general level, a study presented by the College of Medical Toxicology showed that “34% of 18- to 24-year-olds surveyed reported regularly consuming energy drinks” (Sullivan, 2011).
IV. Increasingly, research is showing that consumption of energy drinks like Red Bull, Monster, and Rockstar, just to name a few, can be tied to several negative health effects (Spierer et al., 2013). But as statistics show, not everyone drinks them—so why should you care? Well, like me, I’m sure you know at least one person who consumes energy drinks and you may find some of the health effects worth sharing with them.
V. Though there are many health concerns that energy drinks are raising, I will first discuss the main concern of energy drink related caffeine toxicity, then follow by discussing the more common side effects related to this, and finish up by explaining more serious concerns.
TRANSITION: Let’s begin by addressing one of the leading health issues related to energy drinks: caffeine toxicity.
BODY
I. Like I mentioned earlier, energy drinks are marketed for their ability to increase alertness and supply energy to the consumer. This energy is highly due to the large amounts of caffeine present in the drink—however, too much caffeine intake can result in caffeine toxicity (Schaffer et al., 2014).
A. So what exactly is caf ...
Coffee: the Wonder Drug
http://buyorganiccoffee.org/1618/coffee-the-wonder-drug/
There is abundant evidence that drinking coffee is good for you? But how much coffee should you drink to obtain the various benefits that coffee offers? Bloomberg Business weighs in on this issue with an article entitled How to
Transform Your Coffee into a Wonder Drug.
Coffee lovers of the world know that their morning cup contains a substance to be reckoned with. Caffeine is so effective at juicing our energy and productivity that until 2004, its intake was restricted by the International Olympic Committee. But the original performance-enhancing drug doesn't just provide a jolt to athletes.
But while caffeine is best known for its ability to keep us awake and alert-more than a few of you are likely reading this piece with a cup of coffee in one hand-research suggests it can sharpen performance across an astonishing range of tasks. As with most things, though, it's easy to overdo it and negate those positive effects. Here’s how, and when, to dose yourself with coffee just right.
It turns out that coffee works better if you are not tired! It has to do with brain chemistry. And if you want to improve longer term memory over a 24 hour period, drink coffee. This particular info comes from a study published in Nature Neuroscience regarding caffeine and memory consolidation in humans.
It is currently not known whether caffeine has an enhancing effect on long-term memory in humans. We used post-study caffeine administration to test its effect on memory consolidation using a behavioral discrimination task. Caffeine enhanced performance 24 h after administration according to an inverted U-shaped dose-response curve; this effect was specific to consolidation and not retrieval. We conclude that caffeine enhanced consolidation of long-term memories in humans.
Want to remember what is going on? Drink coffee.
Au-delà des nombreux bienfaits de la consommation à dose faible ou modérée, les conclusions de l'étude précisent que les effets indésirables pour les adultes (anxiété, agitation, insomnie, rythme cardiaque, etc.), qui n'ont pas de complexités de santé, pourraient intervenir à partir d'une consommation de 400 mg de caféine par jour. Cette dose étant réduite à 200 mg pour les femmes enceintes ou allaitantes.
L'étude n'aborde pas le sujet de l’acrylamide, substance chimique qui a poussé en 2018 l'Etat de Californie à adopter une législation stipulant que le café devait porter une étiquette d'avertissement sur le cancer.
Pengrajin Alat Musik Rebana Terbang Gresik menyediakan berbagai berbagai macam alat musik rebana dan marawis dengan kualitas terbaik dan harga terjangkau
The obesity epidemic in the United States can be blamed on a number of factors; A sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, lack of physical activity and sugaring soda drinks. It's cheap, addictive and readily available. Soda accounts for between 11 and 19 percent of calories consumed worldwide. Before you take another drink consider the facts concerning sugar laden soda pop.
More Coffee Longer Lasting Erections
http://buyorganiccoffee.org/1391/more-coffee-linked-to-longer-lasting-erections/
And there is one more benefit of regular and healthy organic coffee. More coffee is linked to longer lasting erections! Forbes reports on a study published in the journal PLOS ONE. Coffee consumption is linked to decreased erectile dysfunction. That is to say if a man drinks more coffee he is more likely to be able to maintain an erection for the time desired.
According to a new study out in the journal PLOS ONE, caffeine intake is linked to reduced odds of having erectile dysfunction (ED) in men who drink the equivalent of two to three cups of coffee per day. Among the lifestyle factors that are known to put a man at risk of ED - poor diet, physical inactivity, smoking, and alcohol consumptions - caffeine has not been of the biggest candidates. But the new study suggests that like other areas of physical and mental health, ED may be another beneficiary of caffeine’s fascinating benefits. Since erectile function, and dysfunction, is in some ways an extension of cardiovascular health - and caffeine is known to have certain cardiovascular benefits - the idea that it could also help ED may not be so surprising. But for men who are devout coffee drinkers, the results may come as good news.
The odds of a man having difficulty maintaining an erection for the desired length of time is about 44 percent for men age 40 and over. For men over 70 the incidence of erectile dysfunction is 70 percent. So, just how much does coffee help?
What Is the Benefit of Coffee?
Researchers found that the caffeine equivalent of two to three cups of coffee a day were roughly forty percent less likely to have erectile dysfunction than those who do not drink coffee. The scientists believe that the benefit comes from caffeine. The benefit works for men who are overweight or frankly obese as well as men with hypertension, common reasons for erectile dysfunction. The caffeine in coffee does not help if erectile dysfunction is causes by diabetes, but coffee itself can help prevent diabetes!
Submit an Energy Drinks Health Implications Related to Caffeine T.docxpicklesvalery
Submit an Energy Drinks: Health Implications Related to Caffeine Toxicity
Final Outline
Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about the possible health effects that can be tied
to the consumption of energy drinks.
Central Idea/Thesis Statement: Energy drink consumption has raised several health concerns including caffeine toxicity, which can be tied to common reactions of jitteriness or insomnia, but also to more serious conditions like cardiac instability.
INTRODUCTION
I. We all know that having good academic standing, keeping up with your social spheres, and balancing that all out with work or other activities requires A LOT of energy.
II. Sometimes coffee no longer does the trick to keep you wide-awake and energized. We, as college students, then look for alternative solutions; we need all the energy we can get, and so some turn to energy drinks as the ultimate solution for a fast and easy energy boost.
III. When I say energy drinks, I am referring to any drink that is marketed to improve energy and alertness, usually containing high amounts of caffeine, taurine, sugars, and/or other herbal supplements (Seifert et al., 2011). Some examples that you may recognize are Red Bull, Monster, and Rockstar. Personally, I don’t drink energy drinks, but many of my friends and classmates do. In fact, 50% of this class reported consuming energy drinks—some more frequently than others, but drinking them nonetheless. Similarly, a 2007 survey of 496 college students, reported in
Excellent Outline 1
Pediatrics, the official journal for the American Academy of Pediatrics, consumption among these students was reported to be 51%. On a more general level, a study presented by the College of Medical Toxicology showed that “34% of 18- to 24-year-olds surveyed reported regularly consuming energy drinks” (Sullivan, 2011).
IV. Increasingly, research is showing that consumption of energy drinks like Red Bull, Monster, and Rockstar, just to name a few, can be tied to several negative health effects (Spierer et al., 2013). But as statistics show, not everyone drinks them—so why should you care? Well, like me, I’m sure you know at least one person who consumes energy drinks and you may find some of the health effects worth sharing with them.
V. Though there are many health concerns that energy drinks are raising, I will first discuss the main concern of energy drink related caffeine toxicity, then follow by discussing the more common side effects related to this, and finish up by explaining more serious concerns.
TRANSITION: Let’s begin by addressing one of the leading health issues related to energy drinks: caffeine toxicity.
BODY
I. Like I mentioned earlier, energy drinks are marketed for their ability to increase alertness and supply energy to the consumer. This energy is highly due to the large amounts of caffeine present in the drink—however, too much caffeine intake can result in caffeine toxicity (Schaffer et al., 2014).
A. So what exactly is caf ...
Coffee: the Wonder Drug
http://buyorganiccoffee.org/1618/coffee-the-wonder-drug/
There is abundant evidence that drinking coffee is good for you? But how much coffee should you drink to obtain the various benefits that coffee offers? Bloomberg Business weighs in on this issue with an article entitled How to
Transform Your Coffee into a Wonder Drug.
Coffee lovers of the world know that their morning cup contains a substance to be reckoned with. Caffeine is so effective at juicing our energy and productivity that until 2004, its intake was restricted by the International Olympic Committee. But the original performance-enhancing drug doesn't just provide a jolt to athletes.
But while caffeine is best known for its ability to keep us awake and alert-more than a few of you are likely reading this piece with a cup of coffee in one hand-research suggests it can sharpen performance across an astonishing range of tasks. As with most things, though, it's easy to overdo it and negate those positive effects. Here’s how, and when, to dose yourself with coffee just right.
It turns out that coffee works better if you are not tired! It has to do with brain chemistry. And if you want to improve longer term memory over a 24 hour period, drink coffee. This particular info comes from a study published in Nature Neuroscience regarding caffeine and memory consolidation in humans.
It is currently not known whether caffeine has an enhancing effect on long-term memory in humans. We used post-study caffeine administration to test its effect on memory consolidation using a behavioral discrimination task. Caffeine enhanced performance 24 h after administration according to an inverted U-shaped dose-response curve; this effect was specific to consolidation and not retrieval. We conclude that caffeine enhanced consolidation of long-term memories in humans.
Want to remember what is going on? Drink coffee.
Au-delà des nombreux bienfaits de la consommation à dose faible ou modérée, les conclusions de l'étude précisent que les effets indésirables pour les adultes (anxiété, agitation, insomnie, rythme cardiaque, etc.), qui n'ont pas de complexités de santé, pourraient intervenir à partir d'une consommation de 400 mg de caféine par jour. Cette dose étant réduite à 200 mg pour les femmes enceintes ou allaitantes.
L'étude n'aborde pas le sujet de l’acrylamide, substance chimique qui a poussé en 2018 l'Etat de Californie à adopter une législation stipulant que le café devait porter une étiquette d'avertissement sur le cancer.
Academic Project Summarized Below:
• Concept of Energy Drinks
• Profile of Red Bull as a pioneer in energy drinks
• Energy Drink market in India
• Created and conducted an online survey and captured responses of 100 respondents and conducted Secondary research to determine the following objectives:
- To understand and identify the energy drink market in India
- To understand consumer preference and their consuming habits
- To analyze the market opportunities and drawbacks
• Analysis & Recommendations
HHG Unit Two SummativeExamining the Impacts of MaternalSusanaFurman449
HHG: Unit Two Summative:
Examining the Impacts of Maternal Health Issues
How does the mother’s use of the following topic impact the fetus or infant?
- Caffeine intake
Guiding Questions:
1. What is the illness/issue? Signs and symptoms? Causes?
Caffeine is a compound that is a stimulant and it’s in things like coffee, energy drinks,
tea, cola, and some other foods and drinks. It has an impact on the nervous system,
resulting in irritability, insomnia, and nervousness. “When pregnant women indulge in
over 200mg of caffeine in a day, the overconsumption may have serious consequences for
the unborn child. Pregnant women who drink more than eight cups of coffee a day are
more than twice as likely to have a stillbirth than women who do not drink coffee during
pregnancy, according to a new report.” (WebMD, 2003). Someone who is addicted or
reliant on caffeine before getting pregnant normally has a very hard time letting go of it
and going complete cold turkey. Noticeable signs would be someone who is constantly
consuming caffeine even though they are aware that they’re pregnant, or someone who
denies that they have a problem with consuming too much. Once a mother chooses to
ignore how important it is to reduce caffeine intake during pregnancy, it becomes an
issue. If they are consuming a very small amount or have no difficulty letting it go for 9
months, it shouldn’t be concerning.
2. What are the effects on the mother?
Caffeine may make you more sensitive to its regular side effects during pregnancy
because it takes longer for it to leave your body than it would if you weren't pregnant. On
a regular day with no pregnancy, it can increase heart rate, make us shaky, nervous, and a
bit flushed. Consuming caffeine while being pregnant can have more of an effect on you
and can also make you feel dizzy or nauseous throughout the days. Caffeine overdose can
cause moderate to serious headaches and migraines in some people. It also raises your
blood pressure and heart rate while increasing the amount of urine you produce.
Dehydration may occur as a result of this decrease in body fluid levels. Caffeine can
make you jittery, trigger indigestion, and make it difficult for you to fall asleep, which is
necessary for both mom and fetus.
3. What are the effects on the fetus / infant? (Consider brain development as well as
future cognitive, social, and physical development)
Your fetus/baby’s metabolism is still developing, so the fetus won't be able to completely
metabolise the caffeine. Caffeine enters the baby through the placenta. Your body may be
able to handle the caffeine you feed it, but your baby will not. In the later stages of
pregnancy, any amount of caffeine can cause changes in your baby's sleep or regular
movement pattern. You may have learned that too much caffeine can lead to miscarriage
(when a baby dies in the womb before the 20th week of pregnancy), preterm birth (when
a baby is born before the 37th w ...
Breastfeeding women may experience disrupted sleep schedules and be tempted to turn to popular energy drinks to reduce fatigue and enhance alertness, prompting the question: What are the maternal and child health implications for breastfeeding mothers consuming energy drinks?
62744ClassificationEach essay in this chapter uses c.docxtroutmanboris
627
44
Classification
Each essay in this chapter uses classification to get its main point across. As you
read these essays, consider how they achieve the four basics of good classification
that are listed below and discussed in Chapter 14 of this book.
It makes sense of a group of people or items by organizing them into useful
categories.
It has a purpose for sorting the people or items.
It uses a single organizing principle.
It gives detailed examples or explanations of the things that fit into each category.
1
2
3
4
Four Basics of Good Classification
James Hamblin
How Much Caffeine before I End Up in the ER?
James Hamblin, MD, trained in residency in the Harvard, Northwestern, and UCLA medi-
cal systems, although he currently works in media. Now he enjoys doing stand-up and
improvisational comedy. His work has appeared on National Public Radio and in Salon,
the Los Angeles Times, and the Atlantic.
Guiding question In 2005, fewer than 2,000 trips to U.S. hospital emergency depart-
ments involved energy drinks. By 2011, that number was over 20,000. If energy drinks are
safe, why are they sending us to the hospital?
46-ANK_6436_ch44_627-644.indd 627 9/2/14 10:10 AM
628
1 The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA, a government behavioral health agency) issued a report on Friday
that called energy drinks “a continuing public health concern.” Yes, energy
drinks like Red Bull, 5-Hour Energy, Monster, Full Throttle, CHARGE!,
Neurogasm, Hardcore Energize Bullet, Facedrink, Eruption, Crakshot,
Crave, Crunk, DynaPep, Rage Inferno, SLAP, and even good old Venom Death
Adder.
2 Everything is a public health concern, though, really. How publicly con-
cerned should we be about energy drinks?
3 First off, the data from the SAMHSA report looks alarming. It tells us that the
number of “energy drink-related” emergency department (ED) visits increased
nearly tenfold between 2005 and 2011:
THIS GRAPH IS REPRODUCED
COURTESY OF THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE
AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
ADMINISTRATION (SAMHSA), U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES (HHS). INCLUSION OF THIS
GRAPH IN THIS PUBLICATION DOES NOT
CONSTITUTE OFFICIAL ENDORSEMENT
BY SAMHSA OR HHS. SOURCE: 2011
SAMHSA DRUG ABUSE WARNING
NETWORK (DAWN).
4 Energy drinks are not-uncommonly used along with alcohol and other
drugs, so SAMHSA (say it aloud once, it’s calming) makes the distinction that,
of the 20,783 ED visits in 2011, 58 percent involved energy drinks alone; the
remaining also involved other drugs.
5 The rise suggests an increasing propensity for abuse, though, given the rap-
idly increasing prevalence of energy drinks in the market since 2005 (now a $101
billion industry), probably a similar percentage of consumers are misusing them
and/or having adverse reactions.
Pause How dangerous
do you believe energy
drinks might be? What
do you think the danger
may be?
46-ANK_6436_ch44_627-644.indd 628 9/2/14 10:1.
1. Whitford
1
Caffeine Conundrum: The Need for FDA Regulation
Perusing the shelves of any large grocery store reveals an abundance of caffeinated
products; ones with caffeine occurring naturally, such as coffee, tea and chocolate, as well those
as with the substance added. Within the past several years products containing added caffeine
have expanded from including not just carbonated beverages and supplements, but also water,
waffles, beef jerky, pancake syrup, cosmetics, personal hygiene products, candies, gums, and
other food and non-food items. Although caffeine is officially classified as a safe supplement,
much is still unknown about its effects both physically and psychologically. Due to the
overabundance of caffeine and recent studies linking certain disorders to its use, the Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) should update its policies regarding caffeine as a supplemental
additive. Caffeine needs to be regulated for the health and safety of the consumer.
This paper is broken into four sections, a description of caffeine and its effects, the
reasons caffeine should be regulated, ways that caffeine could be regulated, and the impact
regulation might have upon society.
1. Caffeine and its effects
According to a report by the FDA, the average American consumes approximately 150
milligrams of caffeine per day (Somogyi, 48). Considering not all Americans consume caffeine
regularly, the distribution of caffeine among adults who do consume caffeine likely indicates
individual Americans consume much higher daily levels than the national average suggests.
Recently, caffeine consumption has been linked to increased incidents of hospitalization, yet
revised regulations have not been seriously considered. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Administration (SAMHSA) reported in its Jan. 10, 2013 edition of the publication The DAWN
Report that from 2007 to 2011, the number of emergency visits linked to the consumption of
2. Whitford
2
energy drinks doubled from 10,000 to 20,000. Out of these emergency room visits, over half
involved energy drinks alone, with no other drug influences. The report concludes,
“Consumption of energy drinks is a rising public health problem because medical and behavioral
consequences can result from excessive caffeine intake” (Substance Abuse, 1).
A compound summary found on the website for the National Center for Biotechnology
Information, describes caffeine as a central nervous system stimulant. The substance is listed as
proven to increase alertness, produce agitation, relax smooth muscle tissue, stimulate the cardiac
muscle, encourage diuresis and treat headaches (Caffeine Compound Summary). Although
caffeine has many proven medical uses, its uses are not limited to medical purposes. In a
pamphlet Medicines in My Home, the FDA describes caffeine to be both a drug and a food
additive. As a result of being classified as a food additive, caffeine may be added to food and
beverage products, as well as non-food items, with little federal regulation.
As a recreational stimulant, adults and children consume caffeine because it functions as an
appetite suppressant, may aid in concentration and help people feel more awake, aid in athletic
performance and provide a feeling of excitement. Yet, despite its relative safety and non-
prescriptive status, Mayo Clinic lists that caffeine should never be consumed without the
supervision of a medical doctor (Micromedex Drug Information).
Caffeine was first approved as an additive for colas in the 1950s after research showed
coca, a medicinal herb previously added to cola, to be harmful upon repeated consumption.
When the FDA banned adding coca to beverages, cola companies responded by demanding
another substance be added in its place. Due to the addictive nature and enhancement qualities of
caffeine, cola companies chose it as the new additive. Since the 1950s, the FDA has done little to
reconsider its blanket approval of added caffeine and has not updated federal regulations to
3. Whitford
3
reflect the conclusions of modern scientific research (Consumer Update, 2).
2. The need for regulation
A letter written on March 19, 2013 by a group of medical professionals in Maryland to
the Honorable Margaret A. Hamburg, MD, Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration
of Maryland, urges the FDA to look deeper into creating regulations on caffeine as a food
additive. The letter states three reasons that caffeine should be regulated as a food additive, even
though it is not regulated in coffee (Arria, O'Brian, Griffiths, and Crawford).
The letter explains how beverages with supplemented caffeine (such as energy drinks)
differ from coffee in both their intention and method. The letter first notes that the caffeine in
coffee occurs naturally, whereas the caffeine in energy drinks has been added by the
manufacturer and should therefore be regulated more closely as a food additive. Second the letter
notes that many energy drinks contain caffeine levels which exceed the caffeine concentration of
even the most highly caffeinated coffee. Third, the letter notes, “coffee is typically served hot,
tastes bitter, and is consumed slowly by sipping. By contrast, energy drinks are typically
carbonated, sweetened drinks that are served cold and consumed more rapidly.” The letter
concludes that coffee and energy drinks differ because coffee is not typically marketed in a
manner intended to appeal to adolescents (Arria, O'Brian, Griffiths, and Crawford).
As mentioned briefly in the letter to the commissioner, a major reason caffeine should be
regulated is that caffeinated products are most often marketed to minors. Products such as energy
drinks, candies and gums are marked to youth by being given trendy names, attractive bottles
and sugary flavors. According to a market research study published in Comprehensive Reviews
in Food Science and Safety, energy drinks were initially marketed to athletes, but when the drink
market found its niche, the majority of energy drinks became marketed to teenagers and young
4. Whitford
4
adults because that demographic has an active life-style and is intrigued by the creative names
and youthful marketing campaigns of the beverages (Heckman, Sherry, and Gonzalez De Mejia).
Energy drinks appeal to adolescents because many young adults look for ways to compensate for
a lack of sleep or enjoy using the drinks as a mixer for alcohol.
The fact these drinks are marketed to adolescents predisposes caffeine to greater levels of
abuse than if energy drinks were marketed to adults, who typically have developed stronger
systems for measuring cause and effect. Adults have a greater ability to foresee long-term side
effects of using the drinks as a replacement for healthy meals or regular sleep. Adults also have a
larger body mass and a greater capacity to physiologically process caffeine. According to Mayo
Clinic’s online page on caffeine, “[Caffeine] is used to help restore mental alertness when
unusual tiredness or weakness or drowsiness occurs. Caffeine's use as an alertness aid should be
only occasional. It is not intended to replace sleep and should not be used regularly for this
purpose” (Micromedex Drug Information).
Data on the influence of caffeine in youth is not conclusive enough to label the substance
as completely safe for consumption by young people. According to KidsHealth website’s article
Caffeine and Your Child, children are recommended to consume no more than 44 milligrams of
caffeine daily, about the average amount in one can of soda (KidsHealth). Not only may children
experience the same negative effects of caffeine as adults (nervousness, trouble sleeping,
headache, increased blood pressure, etc.), the website also suggests children are more susceptible
than adults to experiencing life-threatening heart disorders because children often have not had
heart screenings and do not know they are at risk, whereas at-risk adults are typically aware of
their sensitivity (KidsHealth).
Not only can caffeine lead to physical problems in children, it can also affect them
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psychologically. A study on school behavior published in the Journal of School Health indicates
that with increased levels of caffeine consumption in students between fifth and tenth grade
comes higher levels of depressive behavior. The study also indicates that caffeine can interfere
with students’ ability to concentrate in school by causing an inability to sleep at night therefore
resulting in daytime tiredness (Luebbe, 380-87). Children also typically have a smaller body
mass than do adults, therefore, levels of caffeine that may be inconsequential for adults may
produce undesirable results in children.
Another reason caffeine needs to be regulated is that an abundance of caffeinated products
leads to unintentional over-consumption. In the United States, companies are not currently
required to disclose the amounts of added caffeine contained in their products. Because of this,
consumers may not be aware how much caffeine they have consumed during the course of a day.
This problem is becoming even more common with items not intended for consumption being
added to the market, due to the difficulty of measuring the amount of caffeine absorbed into the
body from nonfood sources.
For example, with the advent of more diverse caffeine sources, a person is now able to
integrate caffeine into nearly every step of getting ready for work in the morning. A person could
wake up and then shower with caffeinated shampoo and body wash, drink coffee, eat caffeinated
waffles with caffeinated syrup, apply caffeinated eye cream to their under eye circles and then
take a caffeinated pain killer to ease the headache that comes after the first caffeine begins to
wear off. Then if that person consumes a mid-afternoon energy drink and a second cup of coffee
with dinner, the FDA’s guidelines for a safe and moderate level of caffeine consumption,
approximately 100-200 milligrams (Medicines in My Home) will be more than surpassed. Yet, if
this person were surveyed on the amount of coffee that is consumed the answer would be two
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cups, which is well within the safety limits.
The problem with caffeine consumption is that the number of products containing caffeine
allows over-consumption to be a nearly thoughtless process. Without intervention on which
products may contain added caffeine, people are unlikely to be fully aware of their total daily
consumption.
A fourth reason caffeine should be regulated is that it is not safe for all people. Those with
predisposed medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, heart defects, mental conditions
and those who take certain prescription medications are advised to stay away from caffeine. Yet,
without strict regulation, it is becoming more difficult for consumers with these conditions to
know what to avoid. For example, previously if a person with a sensitivity to caffeine were
advised to avoid it, that person would know exactly what to stay away from: coffee, tea,
chocolate and sodas (except for those which are clear). Now with more items containing the
substance, it is becoming more difficult for individuals to avoid caffeine. Suppose a person who
is to avoid caffeine is also elderly, with less than perfect eyesight; this person may not
understand the buzzword “energizing” on a package of a new orange flavored low calorie
beverages equals caffeinated and may not check the ingredient list to be sure it is safe. Caffeine
should not be added to products people do not traditionally expect to be caffeinated because it
poses a health risk to the caffeine sensitive.
The final reason caffeine should be regulated is that companies use caffeine as part of an
ethically questionable marketing strategy. A research study conducted by Buffalo University and
published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology indicates that although soda companies claim
to add caffeine as a flavor enhancer, the true purpose of the substance is to increase dependency
on the product (Temple, 176-201). The research study introduced fifth and tenth graders who
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were not accustomed to consuming caffeine to sodas of novel flavors and cited which flavors
each subject liked best. Then subjects in the test group were given those same sodas for a period
of six days, except caffeine had been added to some of the sodas. Each subject noted on the first
day consuming the soda with the added caffeine that those sodas tasted more bitter and his or her
liking of them decreased. Then each day following, the subjects noted that they liked the
caffeinated products more than each previous day. The study concluded that since the subject
noted an initial decrease in liking the caffeinated products, as well as an unsavory bitter taste,
that caffeine is not likely added to the products as a flavor enhancement. Yet, because the
subjects noted their favorite flavors by the end of the study were the most highly caffeinated
ones, the scientists concluded that the mental and physiological effects of caffeine caused the
subjects to crave the caffeinated flavors over the non-caffeinated flavors. The subjects in the
control group did not change their opinions of which flavors they most favored from the
beginning to the end of the study (Temple, 176-201). Even if the intent of using the addictive
qualities of caffeine as a marketing ploy to exploit consumers into purchasing a product is
difficult to prove, the fact that companies could possibly practice this method without notifying
the consumer warrants a greater level of federal regulation.
3. Methods of regulation
Caffeine could be regulated in several ways that would address the issues presented in the
previous section.
To combat the concern that caffeine is marketed to adolescents, age restrictions could be
placed on the purchase of highly caffeinated products. These age regulations could either be on
all caffeinated products or just on certain products containing over a set amount of caffeine. If
this method of regulation were chosen, adults could still have access to the caffeinated products
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to which they are accustomed and children would not have access to those products unless an
adult purchased them. This type of regulation would help increase the level of supervision under
which children consume caffeine. An adult would better be able to monitor the effects of caffeine
on an individual child and parental precautions could be taken to prevent each child from
consuming beyond the level which his or her body is able to handle effectively.
A reason age regulations may not be the ideal method of regulation would be that similar
regulations are already ineffective at preventing children from consuming other substances, such
as alcohol and tobacco, which present a much greater health risk than caffeine. The
ineffectiveness of age regulations could partly be due to adults thinking it is unimportant to
monitor their child’s caffeine intake. These adults will continue to purchase caffeinated products
for their child to consume potentially unsupervised. Children would still be able to consume
products that adults have purchased for their own consumption. Because an age restriction could
be easily ignored and does not fully address all the aspects of the caffeine issue, on its own it
would not be the best method of regulation.
To deal with the issue of accidental over-consumption, regulations could focus on
designating which products may contain caffeine. With this type of regulation soda might be
allowed to continue to contain the same levels of caffeine which it contains now, yet energy
drinks would have their caffeine levels lowered to establish a consistent measure of caffeine
allowance per fluid ounce. Other products, such as food, candies and non-consumables, might
not be allowed to contain caffeine at all. This type of regulation would allow for products which
people are accustomed to containing caffeine to continue to have it, while preventing additional
products from being introduced to the market and reducing levels of caffeine found in certain
products. This regulation would also remove or alter the components of some products already
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being marketed. The benefit to this method of regulation would be that people could still access
many of the forms of caffeine that they are accustomed to consuming, but consumption levels
would not likely increase at the same rate they would if additional caffeinated products were to
be added to the market. Regulating which products could contain caffeine could stimulate
caffeine awareness in consumers, since they would be receiving caffeine from a limited number
of items and could more easily self-regulate their own consumption. The drawback of regulating
what types of items may contain caffeine would be that children would still have access to
caffeinated sodas.
Regulations could focus on setting a maximum legal amount for added caffeine.
Currently the only product that has a maximum allowance for caffeine levels is soda, because it
is classified as a beverage. Energy drinks and foods do not need to adhere to the caffeine cap
level because they are classified as supplements. Other products, such as non-consumables, do
not need to adhere to the caffeine level cap because they are not intended for internal use and the
amount of caffeine absorbed into the body from these products is difficult to measure. A benefit
to regulating caffeine in this manner would be that it is the most fair to the companies that
produce items containing added caffeine. Every product would be subject to the same guidelines
and certain products would not need to be pulled from the market or have all the caffeine
removed from them; companies would simply need to ensure each product adheres to the new
regulations.
A problem with regulating caffeine in this manner would be that consumers could still
easily overdose on caffeine by consuming multiple caffeinated products and might be unaware of
the total amount of caffeine they are consuming through those multiple products.
All three forms of caffeine restriction mentioned allow for a greater amount of caffeine to
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be accessible to the consumer than is ideal. Therefore, the best method of caffeine restriction
would be to administer a combination of all three methods. The amount of caffeine available in
certain products, such as soda, energy drinks and non-prescription medications could be limited,
while also restricting the type of products to which caffeine may be added. Products such as
candies, mints, gums, foods and certain cosmetic items would not have caffeine added to them
because many consumers are unaware of the amount of caffeine they are exposed to when using
these products in combination with other sources of caffeine. Enforcing an age restriction would
be difficult; therefore, the best way to reduce the amount of caffeine consumed by children
would be to regulate marketing these items to children. Highly caffeinated items could be
removed from vending machines and concessions stands where children are the main customers.
Energy drinks could be repositioned in stores so that they are not sold next to juice or lower-
caffeine content sodas. Marketing agencies for energy drinks could remove youth oriented
activities, such as extreme sports from their advertisements, as well as display their ads in places
where and during television times when children are not the main audience. By implementing
these methods of restriction, caffeine could be both accessible by responsible adults while also
being downplayed for consumption by children.
4. Possible impact of regulation
Those who oppose caffeine regulation could argue that regulating products with added
caffeine would be detrimental to companies producing those products. While initially products
impacted by the change may experience decline in sales, companies who are proactive in their
marketing strategies would not have long-term difficulty re-marketing healthier versions of their
products. According to the Journal of William & Mary Business Law Review, regulating amounts
of caffeine or types of products containing added caffeine would not impact long-term sales
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because even without that type of regulation, the market is always changing therefore only
progressive marketing companies will be able to continue or increase sales. The article stated
that companies are always in need of reworking marketing ideas, hence a change such as the
regulation of caffeine will have no effect on companies that possess an understanding of their
market and how it is constantly changing. Any company which is unable to keep up with that
type of regulation would not likely have been able to keep up with the ever-changing market and
would have been in the same failing position regardless of the caffeine restrictions (Parikh, 644-
66).
Society would benefit by regulation of caffeine because it would spur a return to receiving
energy from healthier sources, such as sleep, food and exercise. When Americans have access to
unlimited amounts of caffeine in an array of products, they may not take seriously the
importance of maintaining a healthy body through sustainable energy sources, such as a healthy
lifestyle, rather than through artificial energy supplements. Without being addicted to caffeine or
with a reduced level of caffeine addiction, adults may be able to function more clearly at work,
focus better when driving and sleep better at night. Certain health problems, which may be
linked to caffeine, could show a reduction of diagnoses, as well as improvement in those with
those problems.
Adults who wish to consume caffeine would be encouraged to receive that caffeine from
sources such as coffee or tea, which are linked to having health benefits such as antioxidants,
according to Harvard Health newsletter’s article on “Coffee Health Benefits,” as wells as the
University of Maryland Medical Center’s complementary and alternative medicine guide. Often
coffee and tea are consumed with less sugar than other caffeinated beverages, therefore it is
possible that those who switch their consumption could benefit from a reduced risk diabetes and
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obesity (“Coffee Health”). Children also would be unlikely to want to consume coffee and tea in
the amounts they wish to consume soda and energy drinks; therefore, they would naturally
consume less caffeine. They may still consume the same amount of carbonated beverages, but at
least the caffeine question would have been removed from the equation.
Caffeine needs to be regulated to ensure that Americans can make conscious and
educated decisions about the amount of caffeine they wish to consume. Regulation is important
because caffeine is used as a marketing ploy to draw children to purchasing their products.
People with certain medical conditions must be vigilant in avoiding all amounts of caffeine,
which without strict regulation and clear rules on packaging information can be difficult. Adults
who are not careful about caffeine intake may consume well above the recommended daily
amount due to so many sources containing the substance. Children often consume caffeinated
products, which is scientifically questionable.
The best methods for caffeine regulation would be to restrict how much caffeine is
allowed in certain products, ban other products from containing any caffeine and place
restrictions on marketing strategies for caffeinated items.
Once caffeine regulations come into effect public awareness would increase regarding
caffeine use and potential concerns thereof. Regulating caffeine would give Americans the
opportunity to make more informed choices regarding the inclusion of caffeine in their regular
diets.
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“Coffee Health Benefits: Coffee May Protect against Disease.” Harvard Health, Feb. 2006.
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