Dietitians of Canada

Caffeine and health

Background

Caffeine is found in coffee, tea, cola, energy drinks, chocolate and some medicines. Canadians get about 60% of caffeine from coffee and 30% from tea. For children, most caffeine comes from cola drinks.

In healthy adults, a small amount of caffeine may have positive effects. It can increase alertness and help with concentration. However, some people find that caffeine disturbs sleep, causes headaches, and makes them irritable and nervous. Researchers are also looking at the potential adverse effects of caffeine on:

• Heart health
• Bone health
• Behaviour
• Cancer risk
• Fertility

Position

To protect health, Dietitians of Canada supports Health Canada’s limits on caffeine intake:

• For children:
  • Age 12 and under: no more than 2.5 milligrams of caffeine per kilogram of body weight
  • Age 4-6: 45 mg
  • Age 7-9: 62.5 mg
  • Age 10-12: 85 mg
• For women of childbearing age: no more than 300 mg caffeine/day.
• For healthy adults: no more than 400 mg caffeine/day.

In March 2010, Health Canada changed the Food and Drug Regulations to allow caffeine to be added to any type of carbonated soft drinks, not just cola. DC is concerned with this decision. It may send mixed messages to consumers regarding caffeine use. On one hand, it is recommended that Canadians limit their daily caffeine intake. Yet, allowing caffeine to be added to non-cola drinks may increase the risk that children and adults will consume too much caffeine. Children may be especially at risk by this decision. Even though caffeinated energy drinks (for example) have warning labels, children are not likely to read or understand them. When children make food and beverage choices without the supervision of a parent, they may choose beverages that are high in caffeine.

Actions

DC has advocated for Health Canada to reconsider this decision.

• We have met with Health Canada staff in the Bureau of Nutritional Sciences
• We have written to the Bureau of Food Regulatory International and Interagency Affairs to address this issue.