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| Excess caffeine health warning - EU | Excess caffeine health warning - EU |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Drinking more than five espressos worth of caffeine a day may be damaging to health, according to the European Food Safety Authority. | Drinking more than five espressos worth of caffeine a day may be damaging to health, according to the European Food Safety Authority. |
| Heart problems, insomnia and panic attacks were all linked to excess caffeine consumption. | Heart problems, insomnia and panic attacks were all linked to excess caffeine consumption. |
| The EFSA said many people were consuming more than the safe level as they were unaware of all the different sources of caffeine. | The EFSA said many people were consuming more than the safe level as they were unaware of all the different sources of caffeine. |
| Safe limits for children and pregnant women are much lower. | Safe limits for children and pregnant women are much lower. |
| Caffeine is often a crutch to help us get through the day. | Caffeine is often a crutch to help us get through the day. |
| Tea, coffee, energy drinks, soft drinks and chocolate are all common sources of the drug. | Tea, coffee, energy drinks, soft drinks and chocolate are all common sources of the drug. |
| The EFSA has assessed the evidence to determine safe levels. | The EFSA has assessed the evidence to determine safe levels. |
| Its report says 400mg a day in healthy adults has no health consequences, but many people drink more. | |
| Around a third of people in Denmark, 17% in the Netherlands and 14% in Germany consume more. | Around a third of people in Denmark, 17% in the Netherlands and 14% in Germany consume more. |
| An EFSA spokesman told the BBC: "If you have a bar of dark chocolate at 11:00 and espresso with lunch, a tea at 16:00 and vodka-Red Bull in the evening - that's a lot of caffeine over the day." | An EFSA spokesman told the BBC: "If you have a bar of dark chocolate at 11:00 and espresso with lunch, a tea at 16:00 and vodka-Red Bull in the evening - that's a lot of caffeine over the day." |
| How much caffeine? | How much caffeine? |
| Source: EFSA | Source: EFSA |
| The main health issues raised were: increased heart rate, higher blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, tremors, nervousness, insomnia and panic attacks. | The main health issues raised were: increased heart rate, higher blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, tremors, nervousness, insomnia and panic attacks. |
| The limit is 200mg a day in pregnant women due to the impact on the growing foetus. | The limit is 200mg a day in pregnant women due to the impact on the growing foetus. |
| The report acknowledged a limited amount of data on safe levels for children. | The report acknowledged a limited amount of data on safe levels for children. |
| The EFSA is recommending 3mg per day for every kilogram the child weighs. | The EFSA is recommending 3mg per day for every kilogram the child weighs. |
| It also found no extra risk as a result of combining caffeine and alcohol. | It also found no extra risk as a result of combining caffeine and alcohol. |