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Caffeine is widely contained in favorite foods for children such as chocolate, caffeinated snacks, breads, and milk as well as soda like coke.
However, as caffeine content labeling is inappropriately kept, children and pregnant women, who are sensitive to caffeine consumption, cannot aware how much caffeine is taken from food. Therefore, they are facing high possibility to over-consume the recommended daily allowance for caffeine.
The fact came out after an investigation into caffeine contents in favorite foods for children conducted by the Korea Consumer Agency (www.kca.go.kr).
In conjunction with the Korea Food and Drug Administration, the KCA made a proposal to the industry to adopt voluntary product labeling for caffeine contents to prevent caffeine over-consumption.
Meanwhile, the KCA continued to request parents to keep kids’ consumption of chocolate-containing foods, caffeinated foods, and caffeinated soda to a minimum, considering that children can be sensitive to caffeine.
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※ Caffeine is a substance widely found in coffee, green tea, cocoa, and chocolate. When taken in moderation, caffeine may help to restore energy, ward off drowsiness, and get rid of body wastes through a diuretic effect. Yet, when taken in excess, side effects may include: anxiety, irritation, jitteriness, excitement, and insomnia. In particular, the vulnerable such as children and pregnant women may face comparatively severe side effects from caffeine over-consumption.
■ Caffeine is widely found in favorite foods for children
According to the recent results from the KCA and the Korea Food and Nutrition Foundation, caffeine was widely contained in favorite foods for children.
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Item
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Average Amount of Caffeine Content in Milligram (amount per serving)
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KCA
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Korea Food and Nutrition Foundation
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Processed milk (containing chocolate)
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3.48
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Processed milk (containing coffee)
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46.70
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Snacks (containing chocolate)
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2.2
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3.62
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Doughnut (containing chocolate)
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4.0
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Doughnut (containing coffee)
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6.6
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Ice cakes (containing coffee)
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28.81
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Candy (containing coffee)
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1.05
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Ice cream (containing chocolate)
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9.7
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Ice cream (containing coffee)
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33.0
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Chocolate
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14.89
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Processed chocolate
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2.3
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Cakes (containing chocolate)
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6.4
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Cakes (containing coffee)
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35.5
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Processed cocoa
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5.45
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Soda (coke)
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24.68
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* Amount per serving is shown on each product package, indicating the amount that can be consumed normally by one person at a time.
* Source:
KCA Results: Test results of caffeine content in favorite foods for children (during April ~ July, 2009)
Korea Food and Nutrition Foundation Results: ‘A Research on Recommended Daily Allowance for Caffeine for the Vulnerable’ in 2007
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■ Concerns over children’s caffeine over-consumption
In 2007, the Korea Food and Drug Administration presented daily caffeine intake guidelines for children (no more than 2.5 milligrams per one kilogram of body weight), pregnant women (no more than 300 milligrams), and adults (no more than 400 milligrams)
There is a possibility for children to over-consume the recommended daily allowance for caffeine when repeatedly taking foods containing coffee (mentioned in the above table).
■ Caffeine content labeling is not kept
There is no current labeling standard for caffeine contents in foods. It is stipulated that liquid foods use a ‘Highly-caffeinated’ label if containing more than 0.15 milligram of caffeine per one milliliter. Yet, as tea, coffee, and other products using ‘coffee’ or ‘tea’ as part of its name do not have to adopt the labeling, there are scarcely any products with caffeine content labeled in reality.
■ The KCA made a recommendation to the industry to adopt caffeine content labeling
The KCA made a proposal to the industry to label whether caffeine is contained as well as how much caffeine is contained in the product and use decaffeinated coffee for raw material to enable consumers to select low caffeinated products.
In conjunction with the Korea Food and Drug Administration, the KCA made a proposal to the industry to adopt voluntary product labeling for caffeine contents to prevent caffeine over-consumption. Furthermore, the KCA plans to make a request for introducing a mandatory labeling system to the KFDA if the voluntary labeling is unsatisfactory.
Meanwhile, the KCA continued to request children to keep kids’ consumption of chocolate-containing foods, caffeinated foods, and caffeinated soda to a minimum, considering that children can be sensitive to caffeine.
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Supplementary coverage
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Yoon-hee Jung, Head of Food & Microbiology Team, Testing & Research Department (☎ 02-3460-3041)
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Gyoo-hye Song, Senior Manager of Food & Microbiology Team, Testing & Research Department (☎ 02-3460-3044)
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