Everyone needs their caffeine fix, whether it is a morning cup of coffee to get you going, a cool glass of ice tea at lunch or a bottle of soda when you go out for dinner. But excessive use of caffeine could actually result in death.
After a man's death, the Food and Drug Administration has warned the public to not use pure caffeine that comes in a powder form. Powder caffeine can be bought online, but it is so concentrated that even one teaspoon of caffeine powder can cause death. It turns out that one teaspoon is equivalent to drinking 25 cups of coffee.
With such potency, even being slightly off in the measurement could be hazardous. Kitchen tools and measuring methods are too imprecise to use the powder safely, the FDA says.
"The difference between a safe amount and a lethal dose of caffeine in these powdered products is very small," said FDA spokeswoman Jennifer Dooren.
Logan Steiner, an 18-year old from LeGrange, Ohio, died after consuming too much powder caffeine. The powder caffeine is a pure chemical with potent results. Most know that caffeine can cause nervousness and tremors, but few know too much can kill a person.
The powder form of caffeine is considered a dietary supplement and isn't as regulated as food or drinks containing caffeine. This may result in the labels of the products even being imprecise about the dosing of the powder caffeine.
The FDA is also looking into the safety of energy drinks and so-called energy shots, after reports of illness and even deaths.The caffeine in candy and other other snacks will also be investigated by the FDA.
Consumer advocate Jim O'Hara, of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, praised the FDA for its response and the caffeine warning, but said the agency needs to do something concrete to stop sales of powdered caffeine.
"The overuse and misuse of caffeine in the food supply is creating a wild-West marketplace, and it's about time the sheriff noticed and did something," O'Hara said of the FDA.
Symptoms people may feel from caffeine overdose or toxicity include rapid or erratic heartbeat, vomiting, seizures, diarrhea and disorientation, according to the AP.
Teenagers and children are recommended to avoid excessive caffeine use, including powdered caffeine, until the FDA's investigation into caffeine is completed and appropriate action has been taken in response.
As of now, caffeine powder is still available on Amazon.com and other online commerce websites.
Photo: Jeff Turner
