Food Science in the News: Taco Bell debuts new Power Protein Menu July 25th 2013

Ringing Endorsement for Protein: Taco Bell's new Power Protein Menu (coming to select locations July 25th) 

New items on the Power Protein Menu include a Power Protein Burrito and the Power Protein Bowl. Each item includes the word "power" to portray the connection between protein and performance. But as a wise man once explained to his grandson, "With great power comes great responsibility." Let's look at the pros and cons of these Power Protein meals.

Pro: Getting enough protein every day is important for overall health

Amino acids are the most basic unit of proteins, just as letters are building blocks to words. When amino acids are linked together in certain ways, they build proteins that perform several important functions in the body. Blood clotting, fluid balance, hormone production, cell repair – all rely on a steady source of amino acids so the body can build the protein that will get the job done.

Pro: Getting the right kinds of protein is essential to life

The body makes about half of the amino acids it needs, but some of them (the "essential amino acids") have to come from the diet. If one amino acid is missing, it's like building a car without a steering wheel. You need all the pieces or it's a no-go.

The Power Protein burrito and bowl each include double-servings of chicken or beef, animal sources of protein which are considered "high-quality" or "complete" proteins because they contain sufficient amounts of all the essential amino acids. The Power Protein bowl also comes with slow-cooked black beans, which are a great source of the amino acid methionine. Fingers-crossed there'll be a Power Protein Black Beans and Rice bowl – complementary proteins that would give vegetarians all the essential amino acids.

Con: You don’t need as much protein as you think

It's true that protein deficiency can lead to weakened immune system, edema and diseases like Kwashiorkor, but an excess of protein can put stress on the body too. The typical North American diet has no shortage of protein. The protein RDA for adults is 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight, which means a man weighing 154 pounds only needs about 56 grams of protein. For most athletes, 1.2 grams of protein per kilogram of bodyweight is enough for muscle maintenance and growth, and few studies prove that a higher ratio than this increases muscle growth. Some fitness professionals recommend up to 1.7 grams of protein per kilogram body weight but at that ratio amino acids get used for fuel.

Con: Yes, you can have too much protein

If your body could talk, it would tell you that using protein instead of carbs for fuel is annoying. It's almost as annoying as getting rid of a Christmas tree or your X's belongings. You have to take it somewhere special and dispose of it properly. It's a hassle. The liver and kidneys have to take extra steps to remove nitrogen and process all the other accessories like sulfur. The body can do these steps, sure, but here's the problem: the body stores fat, the body stores carbs, the body does not store proteins. That means when there's an excess of protein in the body, the situation has to be dealt with immediately – not unlike a crying baby, a barking dog or an overflowing toilet. See? Annoying.

Pro: A meal high in protein is satiating; it satisfies hunger and keeps one feeling fuller, longer

As a result of the way proteins are metabolized, they satisfy hunger more than carbs alone. The body runs on carbs as the #1 source of fuel so it's incredibly efficient at metabolizing them (exception: dietary fiber, which isn't absorbed). Nutrition experts recommend adding a bit of protein to every meal because it's more metabolically satisfying than carbs or fats.

Con: Dinner isn't supposed to be the biggest meal of the day

Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper. That saying by American author and nutritionist Adelle Davis has been scientifically proven time and again. Breakfast is important. Those who skip it usually gain more weight over a year than those who do have breakfast. Metabolism is more efficient in the morning than at night, so a big breakfast kick starts the day while a big dinner has a higher likelihood of being stored. A hearty meal late at night with tacos, multiple Power Protein Burritos, nachos and a giant soda won't increase power as much as it'll increase the waistline.

Pro: Power Protein Menu items have more than 20 grams of protein but fewer than 450 calories

Sure, Taco Bell may be capitalizing on the high-protein craze (or as some dietitians call it, "Atkins, revisited"), but these menu items actually have potential to help people eat better, healthier meals (as long as people don't go crazy and order multiple items from this menu).

Protein – good.

Quality protein – good.

Less than 450 calories per meal with over 20 grams of satisfying protein – GOOD!

Energy Drink of the Month - July 2013

Partially inspired by the movie Iron Man 3 and partially due to this summer's hot weather, I've chosen Nawgan Mandarin Orange as the Energy Drink of the Month for July 2013.

For any caffeinated beverage, the following 10 attributes are key to assessing the drink's potency and value. Let's go through this exercise with Nawgan's Mandarin Orange.

1. CAFFEINE CONTENT:
Caffeine content is stated on the label - 100mg caffeine per can (11.5 ounces)
This is amount is less than the amount of caffeine in a tall iced coffee from Starbucks (120mg).
 Energy Fiend Complete Guide to Starbucks Caffiene

2.  SERVING SIZE AND SERVINGS PER CONTAINER:
One serving is one whole can, which makes it easy to regulate the amount of caffeine one consumes.

3. NUTRITION OR SUPPLEMENT FACTS PANEL:
This product has a Nutrition Facts panel, which means it's a beverage, not a supplement. That means this product is subject to food/beverage regulations, not the supplement reglations (What? Supplements are regulated? Yes, despite what you may here elsewhere, supplements ARE regulated by the FDA, just using a different rule book than the one used for food/bev products).
Since this has a Nutrition Facts panel, you know all the ingredients used within are either GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) or approved food additives.

4. RECOMMENDED USE:
Since this product is a beverage, not a supplement, it's unusual to find Recommended Usage or Warning information. Some caffeinated beverages still bear the Warning Label, but this beverage does not. With only 100mg caffeine, this isn't surprising.

5. FIRST INGREDIENT:
The first ingredient in this product is filtered water, not carbonated water. Carbonation irritates the stomach lining which speeds up the absorption of certain molecules like alcohol and caffeine. This is why champagne seems to affect one's sobriety more rapidly than beer does.

6. SWEET STUFF:
This product has 11 grams of added sugar so those of you watching your sugar intake may want to opt for the sugar free Nawgan products.  This product also has Erythritol, a sugar alcohol that's captured the interest of food scientists for its reported ability to improve oral health.
New clinical trial indicates erythritol’s superior dental benefits
Notably, this product is also sweetened with Stevia, not any artificial sweeteners.

7.  VITAMIN B-12:
Vitamin B-12 plays a key role in maintaining healthy cells and DNA throughout the body. This product has 50% of the Daily Value of B-12, a respectable amount. There is no known upper intake level for B-12, meaning you can't ever have too much, but there's no reason anyone without a clinically diagnosed B-12 deficiency or absorptive disorder needs over 100% DV in one product.

8. VITAMIN B-6:
 Vitamin B-6 participates in over 100 chemical reactions in the body, most of them involving amino acids and proteins. This product has 50% of the Daily Value of B-6, which is a good amount. A deficiency in B-6 makes it harder for blood cells to carry oxygen properly, so it's important to get enough of the vitamin every day. However, intakes over 100 milligrams ( 5,000% DV) can cause nerve damage.

9. FOLIC ACID - This product has no folic acid, which isn't a bad thing at all. It would only be bad if the product had more than 100% DV folic acid, because that could mask a B-12 deficiency.

10. NIACIN - This product has no niacin, which isn't a bad thing either. It would only be bad if the product had more than 35 milligrams of niacin (175% DV) because that could bring on the "niacin flush" - symptoms of flushing and itching.

BONUS POINTS:
This drink gets bonus points for the ingredient that makes it (and all other Nawgan beverages) special. Citicoline has been used in numerous studies assessing cognitive health and especially cognitive decline with diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. A double-blind, placebo controlled (aka legit) study involving healthy participants showed that daily supplementation with citicoline improved cognitive function and performance. That study can be found here:
Improved Attentional Performance Following Citicoline Administration in Healthy Adult Women


BOTTOM LINE:
The amount of caffeine in this product and the lack of carbonation make this product a good match for Fatigue Level 3 (Read more about the 5 Levels of Fatigue in my book, ARE YOU A MONSTER OR A ROCK STAR: a guide to energy drinks - coming August 2013).

This drink is perfect for those mornings when a cup of tea or a glass of water isn't enough to wake you up, but you don't need a high-powered shove of caffeine to push you through an all-nighter or a graveyard shift. Moreover, whether or not this citicoline brain-booster actually works, the drink is energizing, sweet and refreshing - perfect for a hot summer day. 

Nawgan.com: Mandarin Orange - product page

"That was brave" versus "I wonder if..."

What is it like to step up to the plate, hoping you get to be the hero and hit the home run that wins the game while fearing you will swing and miss, thereby bringing shame not only upon yourself, but upon your family, your fans and your whole team?

What is it like to tell someone you've fallen for them without knowing where they stand or how they truly feel about you?

What is it like to stand up in front of a crowd of strangers and open your lips to deliver a song or a speech you've been practicing and perfecting for months on end?

These scenarios are just a few examples of what it's like to pit vulnerability and fear against passion, drive and commitment. If you don't try at all, you won't fail, but you won't succeed either. If you never fall for anyone, you'll never get hurt, but you'll also never know true love. If you never stand up in front of a crowd of strangers, you'll never face the ridicule of people who don't enjoy your material, but you'll also never know the satisfaction of truly connecting with your audience.

"The safest risk is the one not taken" goes a popular motto in the field of Quality Assurance. But without risk, there is no reward. A quest to ensure safety is hardly a quest because the only way to stay safe is to take no action at all. This dichotomy is captured in Finding Nemo:

Marlin: I promised I'd never let anything happen to him. Dory: Hmm. That's a funny thing to promise. Marlin: What? Dory: Well, you can't never let anything happen to him. Then nothing would ever happen to him. Not much fun for little Harpo.

On a personal note, fear has dominated much of my teenage years and I suspect fear was what really ended my gymnastics career, not the knee injury - one brought about the other. As I grow older I am getting better at following the mantra, "I'd rather say 'WOW, that was brave' than 'I wonder if...' ". At times it can be excruciating to act upon my curiosity and drive instead of obliging my fear. But often the first step is the hardest, and the satisfaction of actually taking action is much more rewarding than the satisfaction I'd get if I played it safe and never tried.

Maybe I won't be remembered as being the smartest or greatest, and I will probably always be a little cautious and analytical, but I would also like to be remembered as being brave.

Bold takes initiative.

-  Green-Eyed Guide

Save Lives By Focusing On the Source of the Problem

What's wrong with this picture:

"Lawyers representing the deceased, Alex Morris, contend he consumed at least two 16-ounce cans of Monster's energy drink within the 24 hours prior to his death. "...

Key Words: at least ... two 16-ounce cans... within the 24 hours... 
 
"Kevin Goldberg, one of the lawyers representing Morris, said in a statement. 'We believe that it is important to get the word out to the public, and especially to parents of young people, that energy drinks can be lethal, particularly to anyone with an undiagnosed, underlying heart condition.' " 

Okay, how about we "get the word out to the public" that consuming 2 whole 16 ounce cans in less than 24 hours is dangerous. This tragedy is avoidable, but only if lawyers and doctors focus on the source of the problem - consumption practices.

Monster Energy Slapped With Another Wrongful Death Suit

Health Canada and the FDA use 400 milligrams per day as the maximum caffeine dosage determined safe, but that's the dosage PER DAY, for HEALTHY adults. Children and adolescents should not consume half this much caffeine, and NO ONE should consume this much caffeine in less than 6 hours, which is the maximum length of time it takes half the caffeine dose to break down (the "half-life").

One 16-ounce can of Monster Energy (the green one or "full-powered" one as I'd call it) contains 160 milligrams of caffeine. Monster Energy Caffeine Levels     Consuming two of those in less than 24 hours still puts one around the maximum daily dosage, but 320 milligrams of caffeine in less than 6 hours still puts a lot of stress on the heart.

It's unclear whether the deceased had any preexisting condition but I'm afraid that if we keep putting the blame on the product and ignore consumption practices, these tragedies will keep happening.

Why You Could Get Carded for Buying a V8

The American Medical Association has come out in support of a ban on energy drink sales to those under age 18. While many people agree that minors and adolescents are more sensitive to caffeine than adults, many more are disappointed that AMA's actions imply turning 19 means your body becomes invincible to caffeine toxicity, or worse, that ALL SO-CALLED ENERGY DRINKS ARE THE SAME.

“Energy drinks contain massive and excessive amounts of caffeine that may lead to a host of health problems in young people, including heart problems, and banning companies from marketing these products to adolescents is a common sense action that we can take to protect the health of American kids,” said AMA board member Alexander Ding, MD.
Read the AMA release here:
AMA Adopts New Policies on Second Day of Voting at Annual Meeting

True, the AMA is proposing a ban on marketing to minors, which is different than banning the sale of energy drinks to minors. Yet a close look at Dr. Ding's language in the quote above betrays the intent to keep minors from consuming these drinks at all. That would certainly make Senators Dick Durban and Richard Blumenthal happy. It's easy to agree with a ban on marketing to minors, but prohibiting the sale all together is one step too far considering the implications and complications that would ensue.


While the AMA's position is not legally binding, their opinions do carry some weight in Washington. The FDA is currently reviewing the dangers and consumption practices of energy drinks among minors, but their findings will not carry any weight unless the following single step takes place:

RE-DEFINE OR RECLASSIFY THE TERM "ENERGY DRINK"!

Heath Canada was ahead of the curve when they did this reclassification, basically saying, "We don't care if your product is technically a 'Natural Health Product' or a 'stimulant-containing drink' or whatever-else, but if the product has caffeine it is hereby and henceforth called a food, and you're not allowed to add more than 180 milligrams of caffeine to an 8-ounce product or 400 milligrams caffeine per liter."

Boom. Done. Problem solved.  

In the US, the term "energy drink" is misleading because a caffeinated product might be labeled a food/beverage or as a supplement - each category has different regulations to abide by. 
This Nutrition Business Journal article from New Hope 360 explains why Health Canada's move was so effective and brilliant:

Still, the rules are nothing to sneeze at. Not only do they put strict control over manufacturing and labeling, but they also clear up nomenclature issues by putting energy drinks under one clear designation as food. In the United States, on the other hand, energy drinks can either be labeled as a food—in the case of Red Bull—or a dietary supplement—in the case of Monster and 5-Hour Energy. These criss-crossing definitions impede blanket action.

 Ode to Health Canada: Capping and Reclassifying Caffeine

If the FDA would just take a page from Health Canada's playbook and reclassify all caffeinated products as food/beverages, it would be easier to issue a caffeine limit per serving. That would protect everyone, not just those under age 18. Instead of telling kids energy drinks are "forbidden" (because minors LOVE it when you tell them they're not allowed to do something), how about first reclassify anything and everything with caffeine in it as a food/beverage product, then cap the amount of caffeine "from all sources" to 180 milligrams, like Health Canada? Boom. Done.

Banning all "energy drinks" sales to minors is poor attempt at fixing the real problem of caffeine toxicity: Why? Because BOTH V8 V-Fusion Energy and Red Bull are "energy drinks" and both contain 80 milligrams of caffeine:

  

http://vfusionplusenergy.com/FAQ/
http://www.energyfiend.com/caffeine-content/red-bull

Are all "energy drinks" dangerous? No - the caffeine in them can be (at certain amounts). Let's focus on the REAL issue, shall we?
 

Lessons from the Father of Toxicology - The Dose Makes All the Difference

What do you get when you hold a steak knife and garlic salt? A-salt with a deadly weapon.
What happens when you drink a quart of soy sauce on a dare? You could die.

Paracelsus, the "Father of Toxicology" said the dose makes the poison. Actually, in German he said, "Alle Ding' sind Gift, und nichts ohn' Gift; allein die Dosis macht, daß ein Ding kein Gift ist," which means "All things are poison, and nothing is without poison; only the dose permits something not to be poisonous."

The band Circa Survive said it best: The Difference Between Medicine and Poison is in the Dose.

 This story is covered in the article by Food Product Design: Teen nearly dies from soy sauce overdose

This article covers the biological fallout from overdosing on salt, but if science is not your forte, no worries - the key takeaway is the understanding that whether it's water (remember that "Hold Your Wee for a Wii" contest?) or caffeine or salt, anything can hurt you at the wrong amounts. 

The first time you hang out with a new friend, don't shove anything down their throat...

I understand that getting to know someone can be exciting, nerve-racking and also a bit daunting. I understand that people are naturally curious and that, aside from de/re-constructing something, asking questions feeds that curiosity. What I don't understand is why people feel the need to put their new friend, new neighbor or first date on the spotlight.
When you meet someone new, the command "So tell me about yourself" is akin to shoving the microphone down someone's throat. James Lipton would never ask a question like that so neither should anyone else.When you ask that type of all-encompassing question, what type of answer do you expect? I suppose the first words out of your victim's mouth will indeed give you clues to what they value. Do they talk about where they grew up or where they work? Do they talk about their birth order or their first pet?



Steven Covey's book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, addresses the different ways a person defines him or herself. People can be "work centered", "family centered", "money centered" etc. For example, being "work centered", I am what I do. When someone orders me to "tell (me) about yourself", the first words out of my mouth are usually about my job title. Who I am is based on what I do. A case could be made that "Tell me about yourself" is a straight-shot at determining what that person sees when they look in the mirror. Ambushed by that question, they will usually offer information about what they consider crucial information to who they are. 

However, make no mistake, this is not a comfortable conversation. If you REALLY want to get to know someone, start with simple, specific questions. "Where did you go to school?" "How do you like living here?" "Did you grow up having a dog?" These are easy questions to ask and even easier to answer. I highly recommend these types of questions instead of the overarching command for someone to sum up their entire existence in 30 seconds or less. This is no easy task, and not everyone knows what truly defines them. Perhaps the person they want to be is not the person they feel they are. "Tell me about yourself" assumes the person you're asking has a grasp on what attributes define them most.

"What do I stand for? Most nights I don't know..." - Fun.

One more note: When your victim stumbles and tries to turn the interrogation on you, don't give them a 5 second answer then turn the questions back on them. How about you take the spotlight for awhile and elaborate on something the two of you might have in common. If you can find something you two have in common, there's hope for this awkward interrogation to turn into a genuine exchange at least, a pleasant conversation at best. Giving an ambiguous answer then continuing the probe with commands like "Keep going - tell me more" just makes matters worse. When your victim escapes your interrogation, you can bet they will try to avoid hanging out with you again.

5-in-1 weight loss supplement combo IS effective, but thanks to WHICH combo?

This study was published April 2013 in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition:

Eight weeks of supplementation with a multi-ingredient weight loss product enhances body composition, reduces hip and waist girth, and increases energy levels in overweight men and women. Full Article - free access
 
This study was double-blind, placebo-controlled meaning neither the scientists nor the participants knew whether they were getting the real treatment or the fake until after all the data was collected. The patients were obese but otherwise healthy (remember the "thin on the outside, fat on the inside" aka TOFI complex? Yes, you can be overweight and healthy or skinny and unhealthy).

HERE'S THE INTERESTING PART:
The supplement being tested, aka the "multi-ingredient weight loss product" is composed of an interesting combo:

* Raspberry Ketones
* Caffeine
* Capsaicin
* Bitter Orange
* Garlic and Ginger Root Extracts

Here's the label for Prograde Metabo 223X

Click Here for Label Close-Up

Metabo 223X is a weight loss supplement...
Not to be confused with Metabo power tools.










Why is this interesting? 
* Raspberry ketones were made popular by a certain daytime doctor, and there's actually VERY little science behind their effectiveness (unless you count consumption of berries and other fruits and vegetables as being good for your health)


* Caffeine and capsaicin by themselves have been used in weight loss studies and they are both effective at speeding up the metabolism. 
 Capsaicinoids and capsinoids. A potential role for weight management? A systematic review of the evidence


* Bitter Orange might be an effective herbal treatment for weight loss but in a review of weight loss studies involving bitter orange, 2/3rds of the study participants ALSO consumed caffeine. So is bitter orange by itself effective for weight loss? There's not enough evidence to rule one way or another.
A review of the human clinical studies involving Citrus aurantium (bitter orange) extract and its primary protoalkaloid p-synephrine.

* Ginger root extract and garlic extract show promising effects at combating obesity and the metabolic syndrome...IN MICE, RATS AND ISOLATED CELLS.

(Boy, if I had a nickel for everything that showed anti-cancer properties in an isolated cell... I'd have enough nickels to pay the guy that said "If I had a nickel for everything that causes cancer in white lab rats...")





Let's recap: this supplement delivers two ingredients that definitely help with weight loss and three ingredients that might help with weight loss. Is it a surprise the people who took this 5-in-1 combo lost weight? No. 

But wait, there's more...

Safety and Purity: 
I work in the supplement industry - I KNOW there are less-than-trustworthy brands out there, but I'm optimistic about this supplement's compositional purity and safety*.

*Details about the supplement in the published study:
 "Capsules were produced in accordance with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) in a United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) registered facility. Prior to production, all raw materials were tested for purity and potency. A sample of the lot and batch from the placebo and METABO finished product was tested by an independent third party for label claim and was shown to be within +/- 1% to 4.3% of the actual formulation for the main bioactive ingredients."

Effectiveness:
Every study participant went throught the diet and exercise regime, but the people who got the real pills got real results (as in statistically significant) compared to those who got the dummy pills. In the science world, we'd say, "Yeah, it really works."
 
So what's the catch?
This supplement seems promising. In a well-designed study it gave not just good results, but statistically significant results. This "statistically significant" business is rather elusive in these kinds of scientific studies. That's why scientists have to use the word "may" so much ("ABC may reduce your risk of XYZ"). This study was published in a fairly respectable journal, so that's another good sign. Furthermore, the marketing message for this supplement is well-written by a guy who claims he's a Registered Dietitian (becoming a RD is difficult so I always ask to see a diploma). 
Prograde Nutrition RD knows his stuff! Promo for Metabo 

The catch is this supplement is not magic. It's not the combo of the 5 ingredients, it's the combo of the pills, a calorie-restricted diet and an exercise program*. 

*Exercise Program Details:
 "Subjects performed three, 60-minute exercise sessions per week using a ‘boot camp’ type of training. A typical class consisted of the following format: 10 minute warm-up (i.e. walking, light jogging, or biking); 30 minutes of circuit training (upper and lower body each session) composed of the following exercises: mountain climbers, squat thrusts, jumping jacks, squat kickouts, walking lunges, push-ups, dips, resistance band elbow flexion, extension and shoulder presses; 10 minutes abdominals/core, and 10 minutes cool down/stretching. Based on pilot data monitoring heart rate, this type of training expends approximately 300-400 kcal/session."

Obesity is caused by multiple factors, so it's not surprising it would take multiple strategies to achieve a healthy weight. The trick is to knowing which combination of strategies will work for you.

A Nation in Need of Caffeine

This article for Time Magazine written by Alexandra Sifferlin is extremely well written - check it out:
A Nation In Need of A Pick-Me-Up: Our Need for Caffeine 

3 Noteworthy Points:

Wrigley spokespeople released a statement saying Alert Energy Caffeine Gum is intended for adults aged 25 and older who are looking for foods with caffeine for energy. 
 (but it's not like there are barriers to keep minors from purchasing this gum)


 In November, when news of potential risks for 5-Hour Energy drinks were reported to the FDA, Andrea Giancoli, a registered dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, told TIME that drinking caffeinated products in moderation likely isn’t a problem, but consuming caffeine in excess is what nutritionists and public health defenders are concerned about.
 (this has been a valid point that is often skipped over in news stories regarding energy drinks)

 

Agency officials are meeting with  companies that are releasing new caffeinated products, and have said that if studies show that energy drinks or any other foods were linked to deaths, they would force the manufacturers to take their products off the market. Until then, it’s up to customers to get educated about the caffeine content in their favorite products, and make educated decisions about how much is enough for them.

(never underestimate the power of an informed consumer)

Kudos to Alexandra Sifferlin for writing such a well-informed and helpful article.

A Nation in Need of A Pick-Me-Up: Our Need for Caffeine: Time Magazine

Putting Caffeine in Gum is A BAD IDEA, here's why...

With new caffeinated foods popping up, the FDA is getting more pressure to reevaluate the safety of caffeine, particularly for adolescents. This is a terrific news story on NutraIngredients-USA.com:

FDA-to-probe-impact-of-caffeine-on-kids-health-following-launch-of-Wrigley-s-Alert-Energy-Caffeine-Gum

Caffeinated jelly beans and gum is not new, but this concept of adding caffeine to anything and everything is a bad idea. Here's why:

1) Adding caffeine to foods that don't normally have caffeine will make it harder, not easier, for people to regulate their caffeine intake.  If you don't believe me, try keeping track of exactly how many grams of sugar you consume in one day. Too much sugar can be just as detrimental to your health as too much caffeine, but like with "too much fiber", you won't really notice you're pushing your body too far until it's too late to do anything about it.


2) Minors are especially vulnerable to caffeine because for them the safe limit of caffeine intake is so low. It's unfortunately common for news anchors to completely neglect any reference to the limits of caffeine intake for minors. The truth is, while registered dieticians and pediatricians in the US have adopted an unrealistic "zero tolerance" standpoint, Health Canada has identified safe limits for kids of all different ages.

Ode to Heath Canada - Caffeine Safety

 Health Canada's limits on safe caffeine intake are as follows:

• 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.

 Please note that the 400 mg caffeine per day for healthy adults is based off the same comprehensive scientific review that the US used to set their daily maximum.

Effects of Caffeine on Human Health - Comprehensive Review

3) Putting caffeine in your product is just ASKING for FDA attention, not to mention angry letters from concerned parents. Caffeine is such a hot-button issue right now, and for good reason. Yes, of course caffeine is safe when used appropriately, but the easier your product makes it to abuse/over-consume caffeine, the brighter the target on your back.

As reported by Greenberg Traurig attorney Justin Prochnow:

FDA Deputy Commissioner Michael R. Taylor cited Wrigley's new Alert gum, which is making its nationwide debut this week, as the catalyst for studying the potential impact that readily-available sources of caffeine could have on the health of minors.

“The only time that FDA explicitly approved the added use of caffeine in a food was for cola, and that was in the 1950s,” Taylor said. “Today, the environment has changed. Children and adolescents may be exposed to caffeine beyond those foods in which caffeine is naturally found and beyond anything FDA envisioned when it made the determination regarding caffeine in cola.”

Taylor said that the FDA will take “appropriate action” it deems necessary to regulate caffeinated products following the investigation.


BOTTOM LINE: Caffeine is safe in moderation, and for kids and teens "moderation" means "almost no caffeine at all". Putting caffeine in normally caffeine-free foods creates a potentially hazardous situation because it makes it easier for someone to consume more than their body can handle.
(think multi-vitamins that look exactly like gummy bears in a jar without a child-safe lid)