Regulators warned against pure caffeine ingestion which has reportedly killed at least one teenager in the United States.
Missouri Poison Center workers at SSM Cardinal Glennon received an alert after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning that concerned powdered caffeine sold on the Internet in bulk. A teaspoon of the caffeine powder is equal to 25 coffee cups which could be deadly. Eighteen-year-old Logan Stiner from La Grange, Ohio died after ingesting it on May 27.
The products are 100 percent caffeine which is a very powerful stimulant. Parents are advised to watch over their children because it could be appealing to young people and small amounts may lead to accidental overdose. Teenagers are drawn to the product because of its supposed benefits.
Overdose symptoms may include seizures, rapid heartbeat, diarrhea, vomiting, disorientation and stupor. Excessive shaking may cause seizure or its effects. Caffeine overdose may cause an unseen, dangerous and erratic misbeat of the heart which can result to death.
The FDA said the agency is investigating the product and will see if it needs to take regulatory action. For the meantime, FDA recommends consumers to avoid pure caffeine products especially those with pre-existing heart illnesses. It is potentially dangerous and may cause severe adverse effects.
The difference of a deadly dose and a safe amount of caffeine in these products is insignificant. It is almost impossible to measure pure caffeine powder using common measuring tools in the kitchen and consumers can consume a deadly amount easily. The misuse and overuse of caffeine in food is beginning to be widespread in the marketplace and it is time the FDA noticed and does something about it.
"The FDA wants to know about adverse events associated with powdered pure caffeine and other highly caffeinated products. You or your health care provider can help by reporting these adverse events to FDA in the following ways: by phone at 240-402-2405 [or] by email at CAERS@cfsan.fda.gov," the agency announced. Those who believe they are experiencing an adverse effect associated with caffeine must stop consuming it and immediately seek medical advice or care.
