Side Effects of Caffeine for Kids to be Evaluated by FDA: Report

Following the release of a new caffeine-infused chewing gum, federal officials indicated this week that they intend to further review the effects of caffeine on children.   

The FDA’s announcement came on Monday, in response to new Wrigley chewing gum introduced as Alert Energy Caffeine Gum.

Alert gum contains 40 mg of caffeine in each stick, which is the equivalent of about half a cup of coffee. It is marketed to adults as a portable energy solution, but serious concerns exist that it will be widely used by children as well.

The new energy gum is only one of a number of products introduced to the market recently that contain added caffeine. Jelly Belly recently released Extreme Sport Beans which contain 50 mg of caffeine in a 100-calorie pack. Other snacks, such as chips and trail mix, have also been released containing caffeine.

The FDA review will take an in depth look into how caffeine affects children. While many of these products are specifically marketed for adults, critics have maintained that candy and chip snacks infused with caffeine attract children to eat a snack high in caffeine, which they already consume regularly.

The only time caffeine was approved as an additive by the FDA was in the 1950s, when it was added to cola.

“Today, the environment has changed,” said, Michael R. Taylor, Deputy Commissioner of the FDA in a statement released Monday. “Children and adolescents may be exposed to caffeine beyond those foods in which caffeine is naturally found and beyond anything the FDA envisioned when it made the determination regarding caffeine in cola.”

Many medical organizations warn that caffeine can have far reaching side effects for children, who cannot process caffeine as sufficiently as adults.

The American Academy of Pediatrics warns that caffeine may cause neurologic and cardiovascular problems in children.

The FDA says the new investigation will assess the total cumulative impact of children consuming multiple sources of caffeine. Health officials believe it is much easier for children to over consume caffeine unknowingly if it is added to many popular snack products.

Other Concerns About Caffeine Side Effects

This investigation follows the FDA’s decision last year to review the side effects of caffeinated energy drinks, such as Monster, Rockstar and Red Bull, which combine high amounts of caffeine with other stimulants to provide users with a boost of energy.

Over the past years, serious concerns have emerged about the risk of potentially life-threatening health problems that may be caused by consuming large quantities of energy drinks. The concerns have been highlighted among children, who often drink many of the products in a short period of time or combine them with alcohol.

Monster Beverage Corporation faces legal concerns after an attorney general began an investigation into the safety of the energy drink.

The legal investigation followed the death of a 14-year old California girl who allegedly suffered cardiac arrest caused by caffeine overdose from drinking two Monster Energy drinks over a 24-hour period.

Other energy products also face strong scrutiny from the public. Many of the beverages contain high amounts of caffeine. Some products contain nearly 500 mg, the equivalent of 14 sodas.

The FDA received nearly 100 reports over four years involving illness, hospitalization and 13 deaths linked to 5-Hour Energy Shots.

Numerous lawsuits have been filed against many of the energy drink makers, citing allegations of health concerns including heart disease, irregular heart rhythm and in some cases death as a cause of consuming the energy drinks.

Senators from Illinois and Connecticut urged the FDA last year to convene a panel to discuss the effects of caffeine consumption. More recently, Illinois and New York proposed legislation which would ban the sale of energy drinks to minors.

Mars Inc., the Wrigley Gum parent company, says they look forward to working with the FDA to address this topic.