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| Five espressos worth of caffeine could be damaging to health, warns EU | Five espressos worth of caffeine could be damaging to health, warns EU |
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| Consuming more than five espressos worth of caffeine a day could be damaging to your health, according to European food safety experts. | Consuming more than five espressos worth of caffeine a day could be damaging to your health, according to European food safety experts. |
| The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) said single doses of up to 200mg of caffeine from a range of sources – such as tea, coffee, chocolate and energy drinks – should be a safe level for most healthy adults. | The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) said single doses of up to 200mg of caffeine from a range of sources – such as tea, coffee, chocolate and energy drinks – should be a safe level for most healthy adults. |
| This is about 3mg per kilogram of body weight from different sources of food and drink, according to an EFSA panel which took a scientific look at the safety of caffeine on the request of the European commission. | This is about 3mg per kilogram of body weight from different sources of food and drink, according to an EFSA panel which took a scientific look at the safety of caffeine on the request of the European commission. |
| A 60ml espresso provides about 80mg of caffeine while a 200ml cup of filter coffee has 90mg, according to the EFSA. There is around 80mg of caffeine in a 250ml standard can of “energy drink”, 40mg in a 355ml can of cola, 25mg in a 50g bar of plain chocolate and 10mg in a 50g bar of milk chocolate. | A 60ml espresso provides about 80mg of caffeine while a 200ml cup of filter coffee has 90mg, according to the EFSA. There is around 80mg of caffeine in a 250ml standard can of “energy drink”, 40mg in a 355ml can of cola, 25mg in a 50g bar of plain chocolate and 10mg in a 50g bar of milk chocolate. |
| The EFSA said that up to 400mg a day from various food and drink should have no health consequences for healthy adults. About a third of people in Denmark, 17% in the Netherlands and 14% in Germany consume more than 400mg, it was claimed. | The EFSA said that up to 400mg a day from various food and drink should have no health consequences for healthy adults. About a third of people in Denmark, 17% in the Netherlands and 14% in Germany consume more than 400mg, it was claimed. |
| Related: Should I drink more coffee? | |
| Up to 200mg a day should be a safe limit for pregnant women and new mothers who are breastfeeding. Safe limits for children and young adolescents should also be lower than that of adults, the EFSA suggested. | Up to 200mg a day should be a safe limit for pregnant women and new mothers who are breastfeeding. Safe limits for children and young adolescents should also be lower than that of adults, the EFSA suggested. |
| Adults who take too much caffeine can suffer anxiety and problems sleeping while children, who may show the same symptoms, might also show a difference in behaviour. | Adults who take too much caffeine can suffer anxiety and problems sleeping while children, who may show the same symptoms, might also show a difference in behaviour. |
| The EFSA study noted: “Chocolate beverages were important contributors to total caffeine intakes in children and toddlers in most countries, and the use of a conservative caffeine value for this food category may have led to an overestimation of caffeine intakes in these age groups.” | The EFSA study noted: “Chocolate beverages were important contributors to total caffeine intakes in children and toddlers in most countries, and the use of a conservative caffeine value for this food category may have led to an overestimation of caffeine intakes in these age groups.” |
| The panel used the EFSA Comprehensive European Food Consumption Database to try and see the effects of caffeine consumed within a day. This contains data from 39 surveys in 22 European countries featuring 66,531 participants. | The panel used the EFSA Comprehensive European Food Consumption Database to try and see the effects of caffeine consumed within a day. This contains data from 39 surveys in 22 European countries featuring 66,531 participants. |