With the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) caffeine safety opinion finally published yesterday, the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) has called now for the ‘obvious conclusions’ to be drawn.
Science agency affirms safety at 400 mg daily for adults
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has adopted its opinion on the safe consumption of caffeine with little change to its controversial draft after a heated debate period.
Weight-loss ingredient raspberry ketone is an unauthorised novel food for all but one very particular extract – something one manufacturer using the legal extract says could cause confusion.
Creating a successful new soft drink has more to do with connecting with consumers than its taste or nutritional profile, says co-founder of Akuō – Drink to Think Lukas von Grebmer.
The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (DVFA) is to begin a campaign to stop parents and schools giving energy drinks to children at birthday parties and after sport.
EFSA: "How can it have both an adverse and beneficial effect? It can."
EFSA's draft opinion on caffeine does not contain contradictions since the health effects of caffeine can be both negative and positive depending on the context, the authority has said at a stakeholder meeting.
The British Soft Drinks Association (BSDA) has rejected calls to ban the sale of energy drinks to children under 16, claiming they are not promoted to this age group.
Consumers are looking for alternatives to artificial caffeine, meaning even greater opportunities for botanicals in the energy drink market, with small start-ups leading the way.
The sale of caffeinated energy drinks to under 18s and energy shots in general should not be allowed, according to the German branch of consumer protection group Foodwatch.
“The authorisation of these claims would see a major boost for sports men and women”
The European sports nutrition sector says the recent EFSA opinion that backed daily caffeine intakes up to 400 mg per day, will lift the sector – if it makes it into EU law books.
The launch of oral caffeine strip Reon sees cigarette-making giant Imperial Tobacco diversifying its market attentions and targeting on-the-go urban professionals.
The European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) safety assessment on caffeine is not necessarily a green light for high caffeine consumption or for long-stalled health claims, according to industry commentators.
400mg of caffeine a day from all sources is not a safety concern, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has said in a long-awaited caffeine risk assessment.
Sugar low: “The use of such a health claim would convey a conflicting and confusing message..."
Five glucose health claims approved by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) back in 2012 have been officially banned by the European Commission due to concerns over what they would say to consumers about sugar consumption.
Two new studies have suggested that many children and adolescents consuming energy drinks get too much caffeine, while suggesting the level of sugar and caffeinated drinks can lead to different metabolic effects.
With changes to labelling laws and a ban on sales to under 18s in Lithuania, ‘artificial’ caffeine is fast becoming one of the top ingredients in the health firing line, according to one analyst.
Zenith International includes cocktail flavors and cognitive enhancement within a list of 13 top trends it says have driven innovation in energy drinks on the basis of post-2012 product launches.
STUDY COULD HELP IDENTIFY WHO SHOULD DRINK MORE OR LESS
A high-profile US meta study suggests people naturally tailor their coffee intake to experience caffeine’s optimal effects, while genetic factors linked to higher consumption likely increase coffee metabolism.
Energy drink consumption improves sports performance by 3%–7%, but also increases insomnia, nervousness and the level of stimulation after a competition, according a study.
Chicago-based Sensient Flavors has unveiled a new toolbox of natural flavor masking ingredients that can tackle bitterness associated with everything from stevia to caffeine by selectively targeting multiple taste receptors.
A high-profile scientist warns that any move by EFSA to recommend lower upper levels of caffeine consumption below 300mg/day could be ‘very harmful’ for the EU coffee industry, ahead of a key publication.
Reducing, enhancing or even eliminating caffeine content in coffee plants will be possible in the near future researchers are saying after completing the genomic map of the coffee plant Coffea canephora.
Coca-Cola Great Britain tells BeverageDaily.com that UK Diet Coke contains slightly more caffeine than the regular version to ensure the soda's 'distinct flavor profile' after a Sunday Times article criticized the brand for offering diet-conscious...
Mixing alcohol with energy drinks or other caffeinated beverages across different doses may not alter the awareness of intoxication as previously suggested, according to a meta-analysis.
Caffeine does not have a diuretic effect on regular coffee drinkers and is safe to use, says sports nutrition researcher and consultant in elite sport.
Already one of the most widely-used stimulants in sport, recent research suggests there may be greater scope for caffeine to be used in a wider range of sports as well as during exercise, says sports nutrition researcher and consultant in elite sport.
Brainwave Drinks insists it’s targeting anyone with a brain and says the drink will appeal to consumers as keen on maintaining a healthy mind as warding off Alzheimer’s or dementia.
Energy drink association asks EFSA to aim for precision after an open NDA panel discussion on a draft caffeine safety opinion provides more questions than answers.
The potentially negative effects of caffeine consumption on the heart significantly increase as young people reach adolescence, research has suggested.
When it comes to cognitive health products, women look for emotional ‘brain food’, while men look for caffeine sources, according to a survey of German students.
An Israeli company that has released a range of coffee alternatives made from roasted date kernel, says the waste material has potential as a sustainable food and drink ingredient stretching far beyond this initial creation.
Caffeine consumption could have a positive effect on long-term memory, according to new research that suggested the compound can enhance memories for at least up to 24 hours after it is consumed.
Eminent cardiologist Gordon Tomaselli has warned against applying the results of a small study linking caffeinated coffee with better blood vessel function to other products such as energy drinks.
As consumer perceptions of caffeine shift and the threat of more market regulation looms, companies are scrambling to find the next blockbuster to cater to demand for energy-boosting products, says an analyst.
The head of an Israeli firm behind a patented functional energy drink WakeUp insists that the ‘sky’s the limit’ if the award-winning drink is accepted by a specific market segment demanding alertness.
Australia’s Federal Department of Health has released a new discussion paper aimed at the regulation and availability of caffeinated energy drinks in Australia and New Zealand.
PepsiCo is exploring the potential of natural energy drinks containing Chinese herbal extracts that can alleviate fatigue and enhance sports performance without a big dose of caffeine, a patent application indicates.
Vivid Drinks says it see massive potential in matcha as a standalone green tea category following massive industry interest in the UK’s first RTD beverage launch in this category
Red Bull energy shots failed to improve the time in which experienced runners completed a 5km run versus a placebo, according to a new, but small-scale US/Australian study claiming to be the first to examine the efficacy of shots rather than energy drinks...
RESEARCHER aims to replicate ATTENTION-GRABBING RESULTS
A preliminary study in the US assessing the efficacy of 5-Hour Energy found that the energy shot did not ‘significantly improve’ brain activity and reaction times versus plain water with added caffeine.
Sports supplements and weight loss products that contain a combination of caffeine and synephrine from bitter orange may not comply with current regulations and could be classified as unsafe, warns the BfR.