If we can have powdered alcohol, why not powdered caffeine? Well, according to the five warning letters the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued, distributing dietary supplements containing caffeine is a clear no-no.
All of these companies are selling products that list “caffeine anhydrous” as their sole ingredient, which has caused the FDA to prohibit their marketing as they might lead to “significant or unreasonable risk of illness or injury.”
In the light of the current health recommendations, the FDA sent on August 27 stern warning letters to the five culprits: Bridge City Bulk LLC; Hard Eight Nutrition, LLC; Kreativ Health Inc. dba Natural Food Supplements; PureBulk, Inc.; and SPN, LLC dba Smartpowders.
Pure caffeine can be a powerful stimulant. So powerful, in fact, that just one teaspoon of pure powdered caffeine (roughly 2.7 grams) has the effect of drinking 28 cups of coffee. It’s easy to imagine what would happen if consumers took the recommended serving size for Bridge City’s Caffeine Powder (Synthetic) Caffeine Anhydrous: 200 milligrams.
The FDA is even more concerned about the company’s Caffeine Anhydrous Natural Coffee Bean because its 1 kg package contains the equivalent of 123 tablespoons of powdered caffeine.
In other words, each package offers the consumer about 5,000 servings. The company also offers the same product in 10 kg packages, which contain 1,230 tablespoons of powdered caffeine or about 50,000 servings.
Without a doubt, the FDA has good reason to take powdered caffeine as a serious threat, seeing as it’s packed in such lethal amounts. At the same time, concern also comes from the fact that very precise scales would be required for consumers to get a safe serving that would rule out the risk of illness and injury.
According to the FDA reports, side effects such as nausea, heart palpitations, anxiety and vomiting could be induced after consuming just one teaspoon of pure powdered caffeine. When the serving goes up to a tablespoon of powdered caffeine, the effects range from elevated blood glucose, respiratory alkalosis, tachycardia, hypokalemia, chest pains, irregular heartbeats and agitation to death.
Within 15 days of receiving the warning letter, all companies must provide steps that will correct their violation of the FDA recommendations. Their changes will also apply to products that are already on the shelves. With excessive consumption already being reported, the company is compelled to offer more accurate measurement of Caffeine Synthetic Powder.
Image Source: United International
Melissa Gansler
